Rubber

Rubber is both a natural and synthetic substance with a natural elasticity. The natural elasticity is a result of the flexibility in the molecular chain that makes rubber. There are two different types of rubber, synthetic rubber and natural rubber. The Para rubber tree is a major source of the natural latex used to create rubber. The Para rubber tree is found in South America, and as a result, rubber did not start arriving in Europe until late in the eighteenth century. There are many different trees and plants that naturally create the latex used for rubber, but most of them aren't used for commercial purposes. Synthetic rubber is made through a process known as polymerization. Asia is actually the largest manufacturer of rubber in the world today, accounting for over twenty million tons of rubber in 2005. About half of that was natural. Rubber is naturally weak with adhesive properties, and so it goes through a series of chemical and vulcanization treatments to strengthen it and slightly change the molecular make-up. Rubber has a variety of commercial and industrial uses. Versatile and cheap, rubber is mainly used for tires and tubes, but other uses include flooring, hoses, gloves and adhesives. Half of all rubber produced is used in the automotive industry.