Chemical Compounds – Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is a type of substance that is sourced out from the latex sap of the trees, especially trees belonging to the genera of Ficus and Hevea. In technical terms, natural rubber is a kind of elastomer that can also be referred to as an elastic hydrocarbon polymer. It is a kind of rubber that has vulcanised rubber in it, which is useful in producing a variety of products related to the rubber. Natural rubber has a variety of names in different countries. In India, it is also known as Indian rubber, gum elastic, and caoutchouc.  Various industries use it in manufacturing different types of products.

How is natural rubber manufactured?

Natural rubber is made from raw material, which is taken out from the rubber trees’ sap. The rubber plants are being tapped for the collection of latex from rubber. To do this, a cut is made on the bark of the rubber tree and the latex sap is further collected in the cups. After collecting the latex sap, the raw material of the natural rubber is then redefined so that it can be used as a reusable rubber. At an initial stage, an acid is added to the latex for making the sap set like a jelly. After the setting of the latex jelly, it is then flattened and rolled down into a sheet of rubber and hung out to make it dry.

Charles Goodyear invented a way to manufacture stronger and elastic rubber, and that process was known as rubber vulcanising. The natural rubber, which is unprocessed, is usually seen as sticky and deforms very quickly when it becomes warm and brittle when it is cold. This type of unprocessed rubber cannot be used to make products with good elasticity. Polymer chains are unable to make independent movement after the vulcanisation process.

Types of rubber

There are two types of rubber:

• Natural rubber

• Synthetic rubber

Difference between natural rubber and synthetic rubber 

Source of natural rubber

There are many sources of natural rubber. Some of them are:

• There are hundreds of species of different plants from where natural rubber is produced. Out of all tropical trees known, Hevea is an essential source of it.

• In today’s time, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are the biggest producers of rubber globally.

• Several new plantations have been started in Africa.

Properties of natural rubber

• It is famous for the property of having flexibility and strength.

• It consists of natural impurities and vulnerability to environmental conditions and hydrocarbons.

• If we compare it to other types of rubbers, natural rubber is the most flexible of all.

• Natural rubber contains a tensile strength and adheres to other types of materials.

• It is resistant to water.

Uses of natural rubber

• It is used as a good barrier to water.

• It is also the best barrier against pathogens such as the AIDS virus.

• It is also known as an excellent spring material.

• The latex natural rubber is used in the making of balloons, tubes and is also used in many adhesives.

Conclusion

Natural rubber is considered among some important types of chemical compounds. The chain of the natural rubber attaches itself when it is pulled, giving a natural rubber property of elasticity. Other plants and trees also produce latex, but rubber trees are considered as most efficient at producing it while rubber is in the process. This makes these trees the supplier of latex for 99% natural rubber.