Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning composition effective for the removal of coagulant residue from molds or formers used for forming latex articles. The cleaning composition is an aqueous solution containing ethylene diaminetetraacetate (EDTA) ions. The composition can be used alone, or as part of a system with one or more water baths and one or more ETDA, detergent or base containing baths, for the cleaning of formers or molds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a polymer coating composition having a dispersant, microbeads and a high Tg polymer with a Tg of greater than −10° C. for the inner coating on natural and synthetic rubber articles, particularly for latex gloves. The coating for rubber articles, provides an inner surface coating that reduces friction between the latex and the hand to allow convenient donning. They are deliverable from aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a polymer coating composition having a high Tg polymer with a Tg of greater than −10° C. and fumed silica particles for the coating on natural and synthetic rubber articles, particularly for latex gloves. The coating for rubber articles, provides a surface coating that reduces friction between the latex and the hand to allow convenient donning. The coating composition is deliverable from aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a polymer coating composition microbeads and a high Tg polymer with a Tg of greater than −10° C. for the inner coating on natural and synthetic rubber articles, particularly for latex gloves. The coating composition provides an inner surface coating that reduces friction between the latex and the hand to allow convenient donning. The coating composition is deliverable from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for reducing the extractable protein content of a natural rubber latex article comprising the steps of immersing a former in a coagulant solution to coat the former, immersing said coagulant-coated former into a natural rubber latex to coat the former with said latex, allowing the latex on the former to dry to form a gel-like deposit, leaching the cured latex on the former in at least one aqueous solution, and removing the finished glove from the former. The process is especially useful when the leaching is done in a buffered solution, or a series of alternating buffer/water solutions. The process is also useful in reducing the level of extractable protein in a polymer coated natural latex glove. The process can reduce the level of extractable protein below 300 micrograms/gram and lower.

Abstract: A colloid composition is presented which contains an amphiphilic star polymer having potentially crosslinkable sites on the polymer backbone. The potentially crosslinkable site is either a sterically hindered silane monomer or an acetoacetoxy-containing monomer. When the crosslinkable site is a sterically hindered silane monomer the star polymer also contains an internal catalyst, and when the crosslinkable site is an acetoacetoxy group the colliod composition also contains a non-polymeric polyfunctional amine. The star polymer can be either a random or heteroarm star polymer. The colloid composition is useful in the formation and stabilization of emulsion polymers, as a replacement for surfactants currently used for this purpose. Emulsion polymers formulated with the colloid composition are especially useful for one-part coatings such as paints and adhesives.