latex
A colloidal water dispersion of high polymers
derived from sources related to natural rubber or
of synthetic high polymers resembling natural
rubber. Although originally applied to the milky
sap found in the cells of certain plants, of which
Hevea brasilienes (from which natural rubber is
obtained) is the most important, the term is now
applied to many synthetic rubbers, paints,
coatings, etc. Latex is used in paper manufacture
as an adhesive and barrier coating, and also for
impregnating book cloth. (17 )
![[CoOL]](/icons/sm_cool.gif){kind=icon}