Particle size distribution in brominated Hevea latices

From electron micrographs of clonal latices and centrifuge fractions, the particle size distributions in Hevea brasiliensis latices have been measured. By means of this investigation–which was meant to be informative only–it has been possible to ascertain that the highly asymmetric size frequency distributions that are apparently present result from the existence of several size fractions, which each itself has a normal Gaussian distribution. The particle sizes are found as being multiples of whole numbers of either of the two particle sizes 58 mμ and 69 mμ. A possible explanation of this phenomenon is that the larger particles form by clustering of the smaller particles in a grape-like arrangement, without actual coalescence or fusing together. From the experiments it may be supposed that the particle size distribution of latex may have an influence on its centrifuging qualities.