Sheaths of material having improved surface barriers

Abstract

A process of treating natural rubber latex articles, such as gloves and condoms, to alter the characteristics of the article so as to improve its barrier properties and resistance to passage of harmful agents therethrough, and the article produced by the process. The article is manufactured in accordance with conventional methods and then treated with a reactive gas, in particular a halogen gas such as fluorine gas, or a mixture of gasses. The treatment is conducted in a sealed chamber in accordance with the protocol of the “Level 1” fluorination treatment performed by Fluoro-Seal, Inc., of Ontario, Calif.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A natural rubber latex article intended for use in contact with human tissue, wherein the article is exposed to a reactive gas to modify the characteristics of the article and improve its barrier resistance to passage of harmful agents therethrough without the use of separate coatings.  
     
     
         2 . A natural rubber latex article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the article comprises a glove.    
     
     
         3 . A natural rubber latex article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the article comprises a condom.    
     
     
         4 . A natural rubber latex article as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the glove is exposed to a halogen gas in a treatment process in which a plurality of gloves intermingled in a container are placed in a treatment chamber for simultaneous treatment of all the gloves at the same time.    
     
     
         5 . A natural rubber latex article as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the condom is exposed to a halogen gas in a treatment process in which both the inner and outer surfaces of the condom are exposed to fluorine gas.    
     
     
         6 . A natural rubber latex article as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the condom is in a rolled up condition when treated.    
     
     
         7 . A process for treating natural rubber latex articles to alter the characteristics thereof and improve the resistance to passage therethrough of harmful agents, without requiring the use of separate coatings, wherein: 
 at least one said article is placed in a chamber, the chamber is sealed and purged of extraneous agents, and a suitable reactive gas is introduced into the chamber under predetermined pressure and temperature, and at a predetermined concentration and for a predetermined period of time, to alter the characteristics and improve the barrier to passage therethrough of harmful agents.    
     
     
         8 . A process as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the suitable reactive gas comprises fluorine gas.    
     
     
         9 . A process as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the suitable reactive gas comprises a mixture of fluorine gas and another gas or gasses.    
     
     
         10 . A process as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a plurality of said articles are placed loosely in a container, and the container of articles is placed in the chamber.    
     
     
         11 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the articles comprise gloves.    
     
     
         12 . A process as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the articles comprise condoms.    
     
     
         13 . A process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the condoms are rolled up.