Rubber is basically a natural product and at present, we use many items in our daily lives that are made with rubber. Rubber has played a vital role in human history during the development of human civilization. And still it plays an important role, studies show that 99% natural rubber we extract from a tree is called Hevea brasiliensis.
How natural rubber is made?
Rubber is made with the sap of rubber trees. That is how we say rubber is known as natural rubber. Rubber plants are harnessed to collect rubber latex. After the latex sap is collected, the raw natural rubber is refined to convert it into usable rubber.
This was the process of vulcanizing rubber. Unprocessed natural rubber is viscous, deforms easily when heated, and becomes brittle when cooled. In such a situation, it cannot be used to make products with a good level of elasticity. Vulcanization prevents the polymer chains from moving freely. As a result, vulcanized rubber deforms when tension is applied, but when stress is released, the product returns to its original shape.
Uses of Natural rubber:
Natural rubber is an excellent barrier to water.
It is probably the best barrier against pathogens such as the AIDS virus (HIV). This is why latex is used in condoms and in surgical and medical examination gloves.
Natural rubber is an extensive spring material.
Natural rubber latex is also used in catheters, balloons, medical tubes, elastic threads, and some adhesives.
Apart from rayon, it is the only raw material used by the automotive industry.
Rubberwood is another by-product of natural rubber that is growing in importance. It is a source of charcoal for local cooking.
