Powder-free latex articles and methods of making the same

A method of making a latex article, by contacting a latex article with water, an aqueous emulsion comprising a high-density, substantially linear hydrocarbon polymer, and an acid-activated oxidizing agent or initiator, mixing in an acid to the reaction mixture to activate the oxidizing agent or initiator, then, after a first selected period of time sufficient to adhere the polymer to the surface of the article, mixing a stopping agent into the activated reaction mixture to substantially reduce or halt the oxidization and, after a second selected period of time sufficient to reduce substantially or halt oxidization, neutralizing the article with a neutralization mixture comprising water and a base. A method of making a latex article by contacting a latex article with a reaction mixture of water and an aqueous emulsion comprising a high-density, substantially linear hydrocarbon polymer, admixing an oxidizing agent to the reaction mixture to produce an activated reaction mixture, admixing a stopping agent to the activated reaction mixture to halt the oxidization and produce a stopped reaction mixture, and recovering the glove. A latex glove having a surface having a high-density, substantially linear polymer adhered thereto, where the glove has an average tensile strength of at least 2,500 psi.