Production of latex products involves several stages, each of which is explained below:
1. Latex Extraction: The first stage in producing latex products is extracting latex from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. The rubber tree has latex tubes inside the bark (latex vessels) that contain latex. By cutting a portion of the tree's bark, latex is extracted from these vessels. Latex is extracted as a milky fluid containing fine latex particles. This fluid is known as liquid concentrate.
2. Liquid Concentrate Production: After latex extraction, the next stage is producing liquid concentrate. In this stage, water present in the latex is separated through refining and purification processes. This process involves aggregation and sedimentation of latex particles, using chemical agents for separation and purification, and ultimately drying the liquid latex.
3. Dry Sheet Production: In this stage, the liquid concentrate is dried into a dry latex powder known as dry sheet. This process involves fermenting the liquid concentrate using chemicals like ammonia, separation processes, and drying. The dry sheet is produced in sheet form and can be used to manufacture various products such as medical supplies, cosmetics, and other industries.
4. Shaping Sheets: In this stage, the dry sheets are shaped into the required forms and dimensions for manufacturing specific products. This process involves the use of molds, pressure, and heat to transform the sheets into desired shapes and structures. For example, latex sheets can be shaped into tubes, discs, fabrics, or other components designed for use in specific industries. This process may include the use of cold molds, hot molds, hydraulic pressing, or even extrusion processes. The purpose of this process is to give precise shapes and structures to the latex sheets for use in final products.
After shaping the sheets, they can be used as final products in various industries. For example, in the automotive industry, they can be used for seat parts, windows, guides, and more. In the medical field, they can be used for gloves, medical tubing, and other medical supplies. Additionally, in the cosmetics and personal care industries, they can be used for hairbrushes, contact lenses, waterproof covers, and more.
In general, the production of latex products includes stages of latex extraction, liquid concentrate production, dry sheet production, and shaping sheets. Each stage of this process is carried out using appropriate technologies and equipment to produce high-quality and standardized products.
