Electrodepostion of rubber

Rubber latex consists normally of a suspension of minute negatively charged rubber globules in an aqueous serum. Under electrolytic stress, therefore, the globules tend to migrate towards the anode. By using anodes of suitable metal, e.g. zinc, or a porous diaphragm round the anode, it is possible to effect electro-depostion of the rubber. With suitable conditions, and using compounded latex, deposits are obtainable which can be dried and vulcanized. Commercial manufacturing processes have been based on this principle. The possible modifications in the conditions of electro-deposition permit numerous and interesting variations in the details of the procedure and of the results. The use of latex in this way obviates the customary need for the heavy machinery used in ordinary rubber manufacture and eliminates the preliminary milling treatment of the raw rubber, so that the mechanical properties of the product are correspondingly improved.