Room temperature prevulcanization of natural rubber latex using a combination of xanthate and a dithiocarbamate accelerator system was investigated. The mechanical properties of the room temperature prevulcanized latex compound was compared with that of a dithiocarbamate system and a commercial prevulcanized latex. Films were prepared from the room temperature prevulcanized latex, commercial prevulcanized latex, and prevulcanized latex prepared by heating latex compound at 55degreesC. The mechanical properties were compared. The results show that xanthate in combination with dithiocarbamate can bring about prevulcanization at room temperature. The latex film prepared from the room temperature prevulcanized latex compound gives better clarity and tensile properties than conventional and commercial samples. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.