Enzyme, stabilizer and antioxidant treated natural rubber latex product and method of processing same

This invention relates to natural rubber latex (NRL) which has been deproteinized, relative to antigenic proteins, utilizing an enzyme treatment and to a method for accomplishing same utilizing a natural rubber latex stabilizer. In another embodiment, the invention features a combination of antioxidants what allow for chlorination processing of enzyme treated natural rubber latex. A method of treating natural rubber latex to reduce the antigenic protein content includes enzyme treatment of the natural rubber latex and utilizing a chemical stabilizer of the type similar to branched dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid alone or in combination with other stabilizers such as a sulfated fatty acid in combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is disclosed. Also disclosed is a treatment of natural rubber latex with antioxidants either alone or together which ether serve to allow natural rubber latex products to be chlorinated without suffering debilitating aging effects. The first antioxidant is of the type 4,4-(6-T-butyl-M-cresol) or 4,4+-Butylidenebis (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) while the second antioxidant is of the type of a polymeric hindered phenol or butylated reaction product of P-cresol and dicyclopentadiene.