Fig. 2
Confocal laser scanning micrographs of latex films on glass slides from tree supplying: a gutta percha (Palaquium gutta), b balata (Manilkara bidentata) and c natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). The images and measurements of particles were taken within 3 h after harvesting the latexes. The topography maps illustrate dispersion patterns, accumulations of particles, and their height; the warmer colors, yellow and orange, illustrate larger and taller particles, green are smaller, and blue is the base. Small particles were detected in both gutta percha and balata, 1.5–2.6 µm in gutta percha and 3.6 µm in balata; larger particles in natural rubber measured 2.7–7.6 µm; magnification 50x