The Preparation of Cyclized Rubber from Natural-Rubber Latex
Abstract The hydrochlorination of rubber in the form of latex which has been stabilized by surface-active agents, such as Emulphor-O, or by cationic agents such as Fixanol, shows that hydrogen chloride molecules diffuse very easily into the latex globules. Accordingly it was to be expected that, by replacing hydrogen chloride gas by hydrogen fluoride gas, which is a cyclizing agent of rubber, a cyclized rubber would be obtained. This line of reasoning was confirmed experimentally. As a result of an experimental study, it was proved that boron fluoride, BF8 also, brings about cyclization of rubber in latex, and van Amerongen has already shown that sulfuric acid likewise can be used as a catalyst. Since sulfuric acid is much easier to handle than either hydrogen fluoride or boron fluoride, it was used in most of the experiments in the present work.