Chlorination of the latex glove reduces the stickiness of the latex by modifying the rubber surface. This produces a smooth, non-tacky surface on the glove, which can be donned without the aid of dusting powder. An added benefit of chlorination is that it reduces the amount of extractable protein in the glove, either by denaturing the protein or by leaching. Dalrymple and Audley Citation:Dalrymple Audley 1992 Rubber Developments have shown that the effectiveness of the chlorination procedure in reducing extractable protein levels probably results from exposure of the latex to the water, salt, acid and ammonia associated with the process and not from the chlorination itself.
Pete Phillips <pete@smtl.co.uk>