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RUBBER PRODUCTS
The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is a native of the Amazonian forest. Grown now in parts of Africa and Asia, it is one of the world's most closely studied and carefully tended plants.

Rubber is elastic, flexible, airtight, watertight, long lasting and insulating, to mention just a few of its properties. There are thousands of products, which take advantage of these useful properties.

The KLK Group produces rubber latex concentrate and block rubber.
 
EXCELTEX® NATURAL RUBBER LATEX CONCENTRATE

EXCELTEX natural rubber latex concentrate is available in six types. EXCELTEX® is the registered trademark for KLK's rubber latex concentrate.

General Purpose EXCELTEX Types
This group consists of one 'high' and one 'low' ammonia type. Both conform to the respective standard grades listed in the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and Standards & Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) Specifications for centrifuged, ammonia-preserved, natural latex concentrates.
 
EXCELTEX-HA FULLAM)
This is a general purpose, 'high' ammonia type of latex concentrate. By far the most widely used natural rubber latex concentrate, this type will fit into almost any formulation not requiring a special type. This type can be readily blended with standard synthetic lattices in any proportions.
 
EXCELTEX-TZ
This is a general purpose latex applicable in dipping, foaming and other latex purposes. Its main advantages are :-
  Low ammonia system, which obviates the need to de-ammoniate the latex concentrate before use.
  Low toxic grade, as a result of which health hazard and environmental/pollution problems can be avoided.
  TMTD and ZnO, which act as secondary preservatives in the latex concentrate, are popular compounding ingredients (i.e. accelerator and activator respectively) in latex processing. Hence, they do not present any unpredictable problems. Minor production cost saving may be possible.

Special Purpose EXCELTEX Types
This group consists of various special grades of latex concentrate developed to suit particular customer requirements.
 
EXCELTEX-D
This grade is specially developed at the request of the latex dipped goods trade. It has a very high degree of stability to zinc oxide and films of excellent quality can be produced from them. Although this type demands extra premia, the higher cost is more than amply repaid by the fine quality of the products, the easy processing and the great reduction in reject percentage. It can be used with confidence in any dipping formulation. Products based on this grade have good resistance to moisture absorption.
 
EXCELTEX-DC (DOUBLE CENTRIFUGED)
This type of latex concentrate has a higher degree of purity than EXCELTEX-D having been taken a stage further during the double centrifugation process. The chemical stability of this grade is excellent and is especially intended for the processes calling for the highest purity, e.g. in the production of catheters and other surgical appliances and for products demanding good dielectric properties e.g. electronic wire insulation. Products based on this grade have particularly high resistance to moisture absorption.
 
EXCELTEX-HLX HA/LATZ
This is a specially treated centrifuged natural rubber latex that possesses behaviours similar to EXCELTEX HA/LATZ, with the added advantages of having :
  filterability rate approximately 3 to 5 times better than single centrifuged latex, and
  micro-coagulum content (as measured by 325 mesh coagulum level determination) half that of normal.
  Such prominent features of EXCELTEX HLX may be readily exploited in fine latex products like extruded latex thread, condoms and adhesive tape manufacture. Indeed, the use of EXCELTEX HLX by some world-renowned manufacturers in Europe and Japan lends testimony to the advantages claimed.

As filtration of latex compounds through fine sieves or muslin cloth is prevalent in most latex product manufacturing practices, the ease of filtration and the distinctly reduced frequency of filter-change are apparent.

Both the parameters, 325 mesh coagulum content and filterability, for the 2 grades of EXCELTEX HLX, show up as superior to single centrifuged latex in raw as well as vulcanised states.
 
EXCELTEX-PA
With the current increasing demand from our consumers, KLK has ventured a step further into producing centrifuged natural rubber latex of the above. This type is specially produced using a single preservative system, i.e. ammonia gas. With the elimination of other preservative chemicals like TMTD and ZnO, this type would serve as good raw material for production of products being sold in regions like Europe and Scandinavia, as some of the consumers there are known to be allergic to the preservative chemicals mentioned above.

ISO 2004 : Natural Rubber Latex Concentrate -
Centrifuged or Creamed, Ammonia-Preserved Types - Specification
  Limits  
Characteristic Unit Type HA Type LA Method of Test
Total Solids Content (min) % (m/m) 61.5 61.5 ISO 124
Dry Rubber Content (min) % (m/m) 60.0 60.0 ISO 126
Non-Rubber Solids (max) % (m/m) 2.0 2.0 -
Alkalinity (as NH3), calculated with respect to the latex concentrate % (m/m) 0.60 min. 0.29 max. ISO 125
Mechanical Stability (min) Seconds 650 650 ISO 35
Coagulum Content (max) % (m/m) 0.05 0.05 ISO 706
Copper Content (max) Mg/kg of total solids 8 8 ISO 8053
Manganese Content (max)
Mg/kg of total solids
9
8
ISO 7780
Sludge Content (max)
% (m/m)
0.10
0.10
ISO 2005
Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA Number) (max)
0.20
0.20
ISO 506
KOH Number (max)
1.0
1.0
ISO 127
EXCELTEX Common Test Results Produced by KLK
 
EXCELTEX
Characteristic
Unit
HA
LATZ
D
DC
HLX
HA
HLX
LATZ
HLX
PA
Total Solids Content
% (m/m)
61.55
61.55
60.80
60.65
61.55
61.55
61.55
Dry Rubber Content
% (m/m)
60.10
60.10
60.10
60.10
60.10
60.10
60.10
Non Rubber Content
% (m/m)
1.45
1.45
0.70
0.55
1.45
1.45
1.45
Ammonia Content (on total weight)
% (m/m)
0.71
0.21
0.71
0.71
0.71
0.21
0.76
pH Value
10.70
9.99
10.88
10.88
10.70
9.99
10.70
KOH Number
0.55
0.55
0.37
0.32
0.55
0.55
0.55
VFA Number
0.015
0.015
0.013
0.013
0.015
0.015
0.015
Mechanical Stability @ 55%TSC
Seconds
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
Coagulum Content
% (m/m)
0.0060
0.0060
0.0040
0.0040
0.0020
0.0020
0.0020
Sludge Content
% (m/m)
0.0050
0.0050
0.0050
0.0050
0.0050
0.0050
0.0050
Copper Content
Mg/kg of total solids
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Manganese Content
Mg/kg of total solids
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
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