Treatment of rubber latex

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
In a method of treating preserved natural rubber latex which method comprises reacting rubber in the latex with a p-nitrosoaniline in the presence of a metal dialkyldithiocarbamate, the improvement which consists of including in the rubber latex, before, during or after the reaction, but before any significant coloration of the rubber latex has taken place, a hydroxylamine salt in an amount of from 0.
05 to 0.
5 parts by weight per 100 parts of rubber to reduce coloration of the latex on storage.
2.
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is performed at a temperature of from 50.
degree.
to 70.
degree.
C for from 1/2 to 24 hours.
3.
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the p-nitrosoaniline is used in a concentration of from 0.
1 to 0.
5 parts by weight per 100 parts of rubber.
4.
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal dialkyldithiocarbamate is used in a concentration of from 0.
05 to 0.
5 parts by weight per 100 parts of rubber.
5.
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydroxylamine salt is hydroxylamine hydrochloride or hydroxylamine neutral sulphate.
6.
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein from 0.
1 to 0.
3 parts, by weight per 100 parts of rubber, of hydroxylamine hydrochloride is added to the rubber latex after completion of reaction between the rubber and the p-nitrosoaniline.
7.
The product of the process of claim 1.
8.
A vulcanized article made from the latex of claim 7.
9.
The product of claim 7 having the following properties: a.
a half-filled barrel of the latex is stable to storage in air under ambient conditions for 5 days without substantial coloration; b.
the tensile strength of a vulcanized latex article made from the rubber latex retains at least 60% of its original value during treatment with carbon tetrachloride and aging for 3 days at 100.
degree.
C in air.
10.
A vulcanized article made from the latex of claim 9.
11.
A treated natural rubber latex having the following properties: a.
a half-filled barrel of the latex is stable to storage in air under ambient conditions for 5 days without substantial colouration; b