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Rubber

Rubber is both a natural and synthetic substance with a natural elasticity. The natural elasticity is a result of the flexibility in the inherent molecular chain. There are two different types; synthetic and natural. The Para tree is a major source of the natural latex used to create this item. The Para 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 latex, but most of them aren’t used for commercial purposes. The synthetic version is made through a process known as polymerization. Asia is actually the largest manufacturer of it in the world today, accounting for over twenty million tons of rubber in 2005. About half of that was natural. This material is naturally weak with adhesive properties. Therefore, it goes through a series of chemical and vulcanization treatments to strengthen it and slightly change the molecular makeup.

This material has a variety of commercial and industrial uses. Versatile and cheap, it is mainly used for tires and tubes, but other uses include flooring, hoses, gloves and adhesives. Half of all this type of material produced is used in the automotive industry.