# Chlorination for Tack Control
Human page: https://retifist.com/literature-reviews/liquid-chlorination-tack-control
> **Safety.** Chlorine, hypochlorite, and bromine are oxidizing and corrosive. The process develops acidity. Neutralize before final rinses.[^2] No copper or brass in chlorine contact.[^4] Read product and process SDS. Halogenation reduces tack; it does not remove natural-rubber protein. See [Allergy and Skin Contact](/literature-reviews/allergy-and-skin-contact).
## Executive summary
Cured dipped film is often tacky. Talc is temporary industrial dusting. Permanent de-tack in dipped-goods plants is aqueous halogenation: chlorine water (least discoloring among the three listed), sodium hypochlorite, or bromine water, typically in a tumbler.[^1] Commercial practice mostly uses aqueous chlorine.[^1]
Handbook example: treatment 4.5–7.5 min at room temperature with ~0.15% chlorine (from saturated ~0.56% stock).[^1] Higher-sulfur cured goods need less chlorine time than low-sulfur films.[^1] Face-finish context: [Liquid Film Surface Finish](/literature-reviews/liquid-surface-finish-literacy).
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## What halogenation does
Halogenation (chlorination or bromination) chemically modifies the cured rubber surface to cut tack permanently.[^1] Grip embossing alone is insufficient when wet grip is required; halogenation (Cl/Br) is used on industrial gloves for that job.[^3]
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## Solution choice
| Solution | Tack reduction | Discoloration |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chlorine water | ≈ bromine | Least among three |
| Bromine water | Strong | More than Cl |
| Hypochlorite (household-bleach type) | Less efficient | Similar to Br |
[^1]
Hypochlorite is easier to source than cylinder chlorine. Revalidate time and concentration on the film’s sulfur level.
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## Sulfur level vs treatment time
Goods cured at about 1.5–1.75 phr sulfur need less chlorine time than films at 0.25–0.35 phr sulfur.[^1] Copying a high-sulfur glove-line window onto a low-sulfur cast panel (or the reverse) over- or under-treats.
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## Process discipline
Liquor-ratio example: ~1.5 ml chlorine water per 2.5 cm² latex surface, enough to wet all surface.[^2] After treatment: neutralize 5–7 min (~1% sodium thiosulfate or ammonia); three water rinses (5–7 min each with tumbling); dry warm-air tumbler 40–46°C.[^2] Fresh chlorine solution per batch.[^2] Skipping neutralize or rinse leaves acidic residues (skin-contact and aging risk). Aging: [Aging, Storage and Care](/literature-reviews/liquid-aging-storage-and-care).
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## Skin contact
Chlorination modifies surface chemistry for tack/drag. It does not remove NR protein allergy class concerns. Residual oxidizer and process acidity are why neutralize-and-rinse exists. Complete rinse, then gentle dry.
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Deep dive: Diluting the chlorine stock
Saturated chlorine water ~0.56% Cl, diluted to ~0.15% for the treatment bath.[^1]
Deep dive: Wet grip vs embossing
Industrial dipped goods use halogenation (Cl/Br) for wet grip. Embossed texture without that chemistry is not a handbook substitute.[^3]
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## Endnotes
[^1]: Vanderbilt Latex Handbook — Ch 17 halogenation of dipped goods; Cl vs Br vs hypochlorite; commercial aqueous chlorine; ~0.56% sat → ~0.15% treat; 4.5–7.5 min room-temperature tumble; sulfur 1.5–1.75 phr vs 0.25–0.35 phr vs treatment time.
[^2]: Vanderbilt Latex Handbook — Ch 17; liquor ratio ~1.5 ml / 2.5 cm²; neutralize 5–7 min (~1% thiosulfate or ammonia); three rinses 5–7 min; dry 40–46°C; fresh solution per batch; acidity developed.
[^3]: Vanderbilt Latex Handbook — Ch 17 adjacent (grip); embossing alone insufficient when wet; halogenation for wet grip on gloves.
[^4]: Vanderbilt Latex Handbook — Ch 17; no copper or brass in chlorine contact.