Final Year Project

Executive Summary
EXCECUTIVE SUMMARY

TOPIC: THE EFFECT OF CARCINOGENIC FILLERS IN LATEX GLOVE

PRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is use to produce various types of product. One of the platforms
which latex product most frequently used is in medical site, which is called medical
examination gloves. We used latex as raw material because of its astounding
properties, which acts as a barrier of protection both for the health care worker and the
patient to guard against contact with blood, other body fluids, and microorganisms.

Allergic Reaction
Over the past few years, there has been an increasing incidence of allergic
reaction among health care workers to latex medical gloves. Current estimates on the
prevalence of latex allergy among health care workers range as high as 17%. This is
thought to be largely due to the institution of universal precautions in response to the
AIDS epidemic, and the resultant dramatically increases in glove usage.
In the process of producing latex gloves, there are various types of chemicals
which need to be include to produce a perfect gloves which can offers great barrier
properties in order to protect our skin from infection by blood contact which for the
safety both of the patient and also the health care worker (for medical platform).
Despite of the protection offered by the latex gloves, there is one little thing,
which always ignored by the users. Latex product also comes with the side effect
which is famously known as Allergic Reaction which the main priority of this project.
The project is all about to identify the chemicals, which has been the cause of the
allergic reaction to occur. After that, we are going to formulate another formulation
with the chemicals which contains the cause of the allergic reaction been minimized
with the mechanical properties of the product maintained.

1 Abdul Hafiz Bin Abdul Rahman

55100104012
 Final Year Project
Executive Summary
Types of allergic reaction

There are two types of allergic reaction to latex. These are known as type-1 and type-
4 reactions

Type-4 is a non-life threatening dermatitis on sites of contact, produced by an allergy

to the chemicals used when processing the rubber. Symptoms include reddening,
itching and swelling of the skin, which develop one or two days after contact.

Type-1 allergy is potentially life threatening. Those affected are sensitive to the
natural proteins in latex. These people may suffer from nasal irritations, urticaria
(hives), asthma and anaphylaxis.

Latex allergy is unusual in that there are more than 12 allergens present in
latex. Allergy commonly involves sensitisation to different latex proteins and patients
are usually sensitive to more than one. Latex allergy is potentially a serious problem
but it can be managed and controlled. If you are sensitive to latex, it is possible you
will react to any latex product and you should try to avoid any articles made from
rubber.

Objective

1) To study about latex allergy reaction, and the cause of such reactions to
occurs.
2) To identify the chemical that lies within the product that has been the cause of
such occurrences.
3) To reduced the amount of the chemicals by adding another chemicals that is
safer compares to the original formulation but still maintaining the quality of
the product.
4) To perform studies of the chemicals used in latex glove production with the
guide of the supervisor.

There are numerous everyday items to be avoided, including gloves, balloons,

rubber toys, pencil erasers, latex mattresses and pillows, hot water bottles and some
contraceptives (condoms and the diaphragm).

2 Abdul Hafiz Bin Abdul Rahman

55100104012
 Final Year Project
Executive Summary
Care should be taken with tyres and rubber sole shoes, and also with adhesives
and self-adhesive envelopes, some of which contain latex.

Some people with relatively mild latex allergy may be able to use some latex
products. They may also be able to use some brands and not others as different
companies will use varying manufacturing processes that alter the allergenicity of the
latex protein. But even if you are slightly sensitive, it is sensible to avoid contact as
much as possible as with each contact the degree of your allergy and the reaction can
increase. People with severe allergy should not use any latex products.

Methodology
Latex Testing

Before the latex can be mix with processing ingredients, it has to be tested to
measure the stability and to determine whether it is suitable to be used in
manufacturing products.

These test are:

1. TSC, Total Solid Content

2. DRC, Dry Rubber Content
3. Alkalinity Test
4. Viscosity Test

Cured and Matured sample preparation

In this experiment, the sample is prepared using two methods, which is called
curing and matured.

Testing
Tensile Testing
Tensile testing is a measurement of the ability of latex to withstand forces that

tend to pull it part and determine to what extent the latex stretches before it breaking.

3 Abdul Hafiz Bin Abdul Rahman

55100104012
 IDENTIFYING THE
CHEMICALS WHICH
Final Year Project
CAUSING THE ALLERGIC
Executive Summary
REACTION TO OCCUR
Process Flow Diagram (NITROSOAMINE)
Of The Project:

Latex Suitability Testing

Total Solid Content, Dry Rubber
Content, Viscosity Test, And
Alkalinity Test.

Preparation of chemicals for

compounding ingredients;
MBT, ZDEC, ZnO, Sulphur
dispersion using Pebble Mills.

Compounding / mixing
Cured and Matured batch

PERFORMING VISCOSITY
TEST ON MATURED SAMPLE
IN 2 DAYS INTERVALS FOR 1
WEEK

CASTING
AND SAMPLING CURED &
MATURED SAMPLE USING
CASTING MOULD AND
PROFILE CUTTER

PERFORMING TENSILE TEST

ON THE SAMPLES
+
DATA RECORDING

4 Abdul Hafiz Bin Abdul Rahman

55100104012