Formic Acid for the

Rubber Industry
 ACZI_0612
Contact us

Regional Headquarters Philippines SOUTH ASIA

BASF Philippines, Inc.
Bangladesh
Hong Kong 11/F, HHIC Building,
BASF Bangladesh Limited
BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters Limited 1128 University Parkway,
HR Bhaban, 4th Floor,
45th Floor, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, North Bonifacio, Global City, Taguig,
26/1 Kakrail Road, Dhaka-1000,
Central, Hong Kong, China Metro Manila 1634, Philippines
Bangladesh
Phone: +852 2731 0131 Phone: +63 2 811 8000
Phone: + 880 2 934 8374, ext. 6
E-mail: max.dong@basf.com E-mail: archie.cornista@basf.com
E-mail: kamrul.islam@basf.com
Thailand
India
BASF (Thai) Ltd.
ASEAN BASF India Limited
23rd floor, Emporium Tower,
Vibgyor Towers, Unit No.101, 1st Floor,
Indonesia 622 Sukhumvit 24 Road, Klongton,
G-Block, C-62, Bandra Kurla Complex,
PT BASF Indonesia Klongtoey, 10110 Bangkok, Thailand
Bandra East 400051, Mumbai, India
Plaza GRI, 11th Floor, Phone: + 66 2 624 1999, ext. 9457
Phone: +91 22 6661 8000
JI HR Rasuna Said Kav X2 No 1, E-mail: patama.jongsurasittiwat@basf.com
E-mail: rupali.bhargava@basf.com
Jakarta 12950, Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 526 2528 Vietnam
Sri Lanka
E-mail: fahrurrozi@basf.com BASF Vietnam Co., Ltd.
BASF Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
Saigon Trade Center, Room 1701,
No.186, Vauxhall Street, Colombo 2,
Malaysia 37 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1,
Sri Lanka
BASF (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phone: +94 11 242 3388, ext. 9
2, Jalan U8/87, Seksyen U8, Phone: +84 8 3824 3833, ext. 341
E-mail: disna.kalupahana@basf.com
Bukit Jelutong, 40706 Shah Alam, Malaysia E-mail: tung.ngo@basf.com
Phone: +603 5628 3888, ext. 3769
E-mail: edmund.tan@basf.com
NORTH ASIA
China
BASF (China) Co. Ltd.
18/F, Xin An Building, 99 Tian Zhou Road,
Caohejing Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 200233
P.R. China
Phone: +86 21 2403 2645
E-mail: carrie.chen@basf.com

www.intermediates.basf.com
www.formicacid.de

The data contained in this publication is based on our current knowledge and experience. In view of the many factors that may affect processing and application of our product, the data does not relieve processors from carrying out their
own investigations and tests; neither does the data imply any guarantee of certain properties, nor the suitability of the product for a specific purpose. Any descriptions, drawings, photographs, data, proportions, weights etc. given herein
may change without prior information and do not constitute the agreed contractual quality of the product. It is the responsibility of the recipient of our products to ensure that any proprietary rights and existing laws and legislation are
observed. The safety data given in this publication is for information purposes only and does not constitute a legally binding Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The relevant MSDS can be obtained upon request from your supplier or
you may contact BASF directly at info.intermediates@basf.com . 2012 edition  
BASF – The Chemical Company
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its
portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural
products to oil and gas. BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually
all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent
solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges
such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility.

Top Intermediates supplier

The Intermediates division of the BASF Group
develops, produces and markets the world’s largest
range of intermediates. Of the division’s more
than 600 products, the most important include
amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties.
Among other applications, intermediates are
used as starting materials for coatings, plastics,
pharmaceuticals, textile fibers, detergents and crop
protectants. Innovative BASF intermediates help
to improve both the properties of the final product
and the efficiency of production processes. The
Intermediates division is ISO 9001:2000 certified
and operates plants in Europe, Asia and the
Americas.

BASF has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing

Formic Acid. Its production facilities are based in Luwigshafen,
Germany and Nanjing, China. The Company is also building
another Formic Acid plant in Geismar, U.S.A. which will start
up in 2014.

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Natural Rubber Latex coagulation using BASF Formic Acid

High quality rubber sheets can be Advantages of using Formic Acid in

coagulated by using Formic Acid
Formic Acid is the preferred choice for coagulating
latex: it is cost-efficient, and guarantees a
consistent high-quality natural rubber product
– making it one of the best coagulants for natural
rubber latex coagulation in dry rubber production.
Research has shown that natural rubber latex
coagulation by using Formic Acid at an appropriate
concentration and with recommended methods can
produce high quality dry rubbers with good color, as
required by dealers and manufacturers.
Natural rubber sheets formed by homogeneous and efficient latex
coagulation using BASF Formic Acid.
rubber sheet production
– Cost efficient
– Superior performance
– Environmentally compatible
Formic Acid is cost-efficient, and natural rubber
latex can coagulate homogeneously;
Formic Acid’s acidity is ideal for transforming
latex into homogeneous dry rubber:
– Weaker acids are less efficient, and result in
much higher acid consumption;
– Stronger acids make the pH drop too rapidly
and non-homogeneously, resulting in uneven
latex coagulation;
No residue in rubber sheets;
No effect on rubber elasticity;
No effect on rubber performance in any rubber
applications;
Good color rubber sheets;
Formic Acid is not too acidic or corrosive, making
it safe to use; and
Formic Acid is environmentally compatible. It is
readily biodegradable and does not result in
phosphate or nitrate loading of wastewater. It
has low chemical oxygen demand (COD).

Properties of Formic Acid

BASF Formic Acid is commercially
available at 85% and 94% concentration.
Formic Acid’s properties include:
colorless, excellent water solubility, Formic acid 94%
Formic acid 85%

and pungent smell. MATERIAL: 52706366

MATERIAL: 52706366

Hazardous Ingredients:
FORMIC ACID Hazardous Ingredients:
FORMIC ACID

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Characteristics of rubber sheets
formed using Formic Acid
Clean, no acid spots, not sticky. No impurities,
black spots, dirt, or air bubbles can be seen,
even when a sheet is viewed against the light;
The rubber sheets are dry, pale, and evenly
colored, with no blemishes;
The rubber sheets have regular and distinct rib-
like patterns. When force is applied, they are soft,
flexible, resilient and tough; and
The sheets’ average thickness is 2.8 – 3.2 mm;
each sheet is rectangular, with a width of
40 – 45 cm and length of 80 – 85 cm.

Procedures for making high quality

rubber sheets
There is a simple over-arching principle for
producing high quality rubber sheets: “keep the
rubber clean”.
This can be achieved by keeping the natural rubber
latex clean; and using clean equipment, clean water,
and standard quality acid.
The process for making high quality rubber sheets is
as follows:

Step 1 Collect fresh natural rubber latex

Collection cups, latex containers or buckets
should be cleaned prior to use;
Do not collect rubber wastes, such as cup lumps
or bark scraps, together with the latex in the latex
containers, as these may cause latex coagulation
and difficulty with latex straining;
Place a lid on the container, to prevent latex
spillage.

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Step 2 Clean tools and equipment Step 3 Latex straining
Tools and equipment used To remove dirt, impurities and
for making rubber sheets coagulum, double 40 mesh
should be washed both (top) and 60 mesh (bottom)
before and after use. sieves can be used to strain
the field latex.

Step 4 Measure the latex into pans Step 5 Mix water and latex
Three liters of sieved latex Three liters of clean water is
is measured into each pan poured into the pan, and mix
or coagulation trough. with the latex.

Step 6 Select acid coagulant and Step 7 Mix the diluted acid with latex
acid dilution
To homogeneously coagulate latex in order to Use a paddle to stir the latex once or twice.
produce high quality rubber sheets, use of 400 ml (approximately one can) of diluted acid
standard BASF Formic Acid 94% is recommended. (from Step 6) is poured into and mixed in the pan.
To coagulate latex within 30 – 45 minutes, an Use the paddle to stir the acid and latex about six
appropriate concentration of Formic Acid can be times, to create a homogenous mixture.
prepared as follows:
15 ml of Formic Acid 94% is mixed with 1200 ml
(approximately three cans) of water. Note that the
acid is poured into the water. The concentrated acid
must be stored in ceramic or plastic containers.

Formic acid 94%

MATERIAL: 52706366

Hazardous Ingredients:
FORMIC ACID

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Step 8 Remove froth Step 9 Place a lid on the pan
During latex mixing, latex froth can be created. Coagulation pans should be covered with lids,
The paddle can be used to remove this from the to protect the rubber from dirt or impurities.
pan. The froth can be collected and sold as good
quality rubber scrap. If the froth is not eliminated,
air bubbles will be present in the rubber sheets,
lowering the rubber quality.

Step 10 Create initial rubber sheets Step 11 Use smooth rollers to create
thinner sheets

Once the rubber has coagulated, it should be Smooth rollers are then used three or four times
rolled to form sheets. Put a little clean water into on each rubber sheet, to reduce its thickness to
the pan, to keep the coagulum wet and easy to 3 – 4 mm.
remove. Initial sheets can be formed on a table
with a clean stainless-steel covering, by using
hands or hand operated rollers in order to form
sheets that are approximately 1 cm thick.

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Step 12 Imprint sheets using grooved
rollers
After the rubber sheets are passed through
successive pairs of rollers (in a “sheeting
battery”), to produce sheets of uniform thickness,
appropriately grooved rollers are used to imprint
“ribs” on each sheet, thus increasing the surface
area to facilitate drying.
Step 14 Drip-dry the rubber sheets
Wet rubber sheets should be hung from lines, so
water can drip from them. Note that they should
not be hung in direct sunlight, as this may cause
rubber degradation and color changes.
Step 13 Clean the rubber sheets
The ribbed rubber sheets are then immersed
in clean water, to eliminate surface impurities
and dirt.
Step 15 Store the rubber sheets and
ready for sale
Once the rubber sheets have almost dripped dry,
they are typically hung from reapers and dried
using natural ventilation. Good ventilation is
essential to prevent growth of fungi.