Acetone

Acetone is a good solvent for most plastics and synthetic fibers including those used in laboratory bottles made of polystyrene, polycarbonate and some types of polypropylene. It is ideal for thinning fiberglass resin, cleaning fiberglass tools and dissolving two-part epoxies and superglue before hardening. It is used as a volatile component of some paints and varnishes. As a heavy-duty degreaser, it is useful in the preparation of metal prior to painting, it also thins polyester resins, vinyl and adhesives.

Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer that was originally derived from a milky colloidal suspension or latex, found in the sap of some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the latex sap collected and refined into a usable rubber. The purified form of natural rubber is the chemical polyisoprene, which can also be produced synthetically. Natural rubber is used extensively in many applications and products, as is synthetic rubber.

Natural Rubber Latex
The commercial source of natural rubber latex is the Para rubber tree, often simply called rubber tree. Other plants containing latex include Gutta-Percha, rubber fig, Panama rubber tree, spurges, lettuce, common dandelion, Russian dandelion, Scorzonera, and Guayule.

There are two main solvents for rubber: turpentine and naphtha (petroleum). The former has been in use since 1763 when François Fresnau made the discovery. Giovanni Fabronni is credited with the discovery of naphtha as a rubber solvent in 1779. Because rubber does not dissolve easily, the material is finely divided by shredding prior to its immersion.

An ammonia solution can be used to prevent the coagulation of raw latex while it is being transported from its collection site.