Latex, << LAY tehks, >> is a milky substance that serves as the source of natural rubber. It is produced by plants and trees of the sapodilla family. Most commercially used natural latex comes from hevea tree plantations of tropical Africa and Asia.
Latex is obtained by cutting diagonal grooves in the bark of trees and gathering the material as it drips from these wounds. Because latex quickly decomposes, it must be processed within several hours after being collected. In some cases, it is thinned with water and treated with formic acid to make it coagulate (form solid particles). The particles are then rolled into sheets that are smoked and dried before shipping. The smoking kills bacteria and molds that could rot the sheets.
Some latex is shipped as a liquid. Before latex is shipped in this form, much of the water found in it is removed in separators. Ammonia or some other preservative is then added to the remaining latex to slow bacterial decomposition and coagulation.
