How is Rubber Made?

Answer:

Some people think that all rubber is made from latex produced from trees. This is not in fact the case. Only about 25-30% of all rubber is made from latex, which is milked from trees. The latex is a mixture of organic compounds which are produced in special cells of a tree called Hevea Brasiliensis.

The trees are tapped by removing the bark. At the bottom of the slice, a container is attached to collect the drippings. A coconut shell was and still is used by many plantations as a suitable container for the amount of latex that will flow before it coagulates and stops dripping. Roughly, a cup will flow about every three hours after which another cut will have to be made, just under the previous one. The liquid latex is then processed in special ways that form it into a more solid shape.

Rubber is useful because it resists tearing from friction (think about car tires on the road!), withstands heat, is air-tight, and is water-proof! Plus, rubber is elastic and bendy, meaning it's perfect for making balloons and, of course, rubber bands!

Synthetic rubber, which now makes up about 65% of the market, is made by emulsifying two chemicals, butadiene, and styrene, both made from oil.

Every year the world produces about 4 million long tons of natural rubber and 7 million long tons of man-made rubber. About 70% of this rubber goes to the automobile industry.