Flexible coated article and method of making same

A flexible rubber article for use in contact with human or animal skin or tissue, said article having been treated by priming with a dilute acid followed by the application of an adherent coating of a hydrogel polymer solution to one surface of said article prior to final vulcanization of said article so as to form an external surface after curing of said coating, said cured external surface imparting moisture absorbent properties to said article surface and providing said article surface with a coating that is compatible with said skin or tissue, said article having been also treated by dipping in a dilute solution of a soluble salt of an at least trivalent metal ion, prior to curing of the hydrogel coating so as to increase the adherence of said polymer coating to said article after curing of the polymer coating.

A process for producing a rubber article, said article comprising an adherent coating of a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer applied to at least one surface thereof, said article having both lubricant properties and vapor transmission properties the latter being manifested by a feeling of coolness experienced by a wearer of said article, said process comprising:

• (a) priming a mold which has previously been coated by a rubber latex by dipping it into an aqueous solution of dilute acid;
• (b) dipping said primed rubber coated mold into a solution of a hydrophilic polymer so that said polymer coats said rubber prior to full vulcanization of said rubber,
• (c) curing said polymer and vulcanizing the thus formed article by application of heat for a period of time sufficient to cure said polymer and vulcanize said rubber so that said polymer adheres to said rubber.