Abstract

Our knowledge of Hevea latex is still incomplete, and some problems, such, for example, as a study of its natural inorganic ingredients, have not been attacked. Some work of value has been done on the analysis of the ash from latex and on the influence of metals in solution on the colloidal stability of latex, but few facts are available concerning the physico-chemical state of these metals in the natural emulsion and their partition between the serum and rubber particles. The investigation which is described in the present paper is devoted to metal components which are capable of influencing, when in soluble form, the colloidal behavior of latex. These include potassium sodium, calcium, and magnesium and, under some conditions, iron. Copper and manganese were not studied in this work for they have been the object of numerous investigations, and these metals play in effect the part of powerful prooxygenic agents in the oxidation of rubber.