Latex clothing
Latex clothing refers to items of clothing that are made from (natural) rubber or natural rubber .
nomenclature
Latex clothing should correctly be called rubber clothing, because latex is used to describe various substances, including the milky sap of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). After pretreatment by smoking / rolling, it becomes rubber . The material is only stabilized through vulcanization , i.e. the introduction of sulfur and heating. This end product is then called rubber. The same term is also used for synthetic production from petroleum because the end product is chemically identical. Generally speaking, however, latex clothing is used in order to clearly distinguish it from car tires, etc. In the meantime, some manufacturers also use recycled latex sheets, the basic material for this is, for example, the recycling of old tires. There are also small manufacturers who cast their latex sheets, such as structural latex, by hand. To do this, they use liquid latex, color it and fill it into a mold up to the desired material thickness. This liquid latex usually has a low ammonia content.
use
Latex clothing is used in the following areas:
- as protective clothing before
- toxic or corrosive substances (chemicals or gases)
- Infections (medicine)
- Pregnancy and venereal diseases (condoms)
- in fashion for latex dresses, costumes and latex catsuits
- in the area of rubber fetishism
- in the field of BDSM
Types of latex clothing
Dipped goods
Here, a ceramic mold or the like is immersed in a bath of liquid latex and then pulled out. A layer of approx. 0.05–0.1 mm forms. In order to achieve the desired thickness of the material, it may be dipped several times. The disadvantage of this procedure is the fluctuating material thickness (and the resulting different tear strength). In addition, customization is not possible.
Common latex articles that are manufactured using the immersion process are gloves and stockings in various lengths and condoms . Even balloons are made in this way.
Glued goods
Here the garment is tailored from strips of finished latex. The price is usually many times higher than for dipped goods. The strength and thus the durability of the material surpasses the dipped goods by far. The advantages are a constant material thickness and constant strength and durability of the clothing. In addition, the garment can be perfectly adapted to the figure of the customer by a tailor .
Sewn goods
Similar to the glued goods, the garments are made from prefabricated or pre-cut latex sheets, which are sewn together with thread . This sometimes has a negative effect on the elasticity - even if an attempt is made to make the seams variable in length - since these sewn outfits do not yield as much as glued items of clothing. In addition, every puncture has a negative effect on the durability. To avoid small tears when sewing, which can continue, latex is partially sewn with hot needles.
Colours
The latex milk obtained from the plant has a whitish color . After pretreatment by z. B. When heated, the material gets its typical light beige rubber color . In the production of yard goods, in addition to sulfur (for vulcanization), color pigments are also added. In principle, any color is possible, the colors black and red are the most common. Transparent and white latex stain more easily. Some manufacturers now offer over 100 different colors and tints, including latex with metallic effects.
Material thicknesses
Typical values of the material thickness for immersed material are between 0.25 and 0.75 mm. In the case of glued pieces, the most frequently used thickness is usually 0.25-0.60 mm. Catsuits are also made in thicknesses of 0.80 to 1.50 mm, but due to the decreasing elasticity of the material, they are rarely made. Coats, jackets and jeans, and sometimes accessories, are made in material thicknesses of usually 0.8 to 4 mm. Structured latex is becoming more and more popular and is usually only available from 0.6 mm. Thicknesses of up to 8 mm are available on the market, whereby such thick-walled whole suits can weigh up to 30 kg.
In addition to its elasticity, the thickness of the rubber is usually viewed as a measure of comfort. For example, stockings are made from 0.25 to a maximum of 0.40 mm material. The stronger the material, the higher the tear strength, but the lower the elongation. High tensile strength is expected, especially in the case of stockings on the heavily loaded heels. There are also latex stockings, such as multi-part seamed stockings made of this material, which are combined with thicker rubber at the particularly stressed areas. The smaller layer thickness makes it much more comfortable to wear, especially if the latex garment is worn under normal clothing.
literature
- Kim Powers: Male Sexual Discipline . 1st edition, Carl Stephenson Verlag, Flensburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-79860-3066 .
- Jamari Lior: Creative model photography. Original low-budget solutions for indoors and outdoors, 1st edition, dpunkt.verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 2016, ISBN 978-3-86490-347-2 .
