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Formed in a living organism, natural rubber consists of solids suspended in a milky fluid, called latex, that circulates in the inner portions of the bark of many tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs, but predominantly Hevea brasiliensis, a tall softwood tree originating in Brazil.
- Where is the main source of rubber?
- Where is natural rubber found?
- Where do rubber trees grow?
- Who invented rubber?
- Is rubber a plastic?
- How is rubber farmed?
- How was rubber invented?
- How did rubber get its name?
- How does rubber come from trees?
- Can you grow a rubber tree from a leaf?
- Where does rubber come from in Africa?
- When did rubber come out?
- How did Goodyear start?
- What is Goodyear known for?
- Does rubber decompose?
- Can we recycle rubber?
- What is natural rubber?
Where is the main source of rubber?
Nowadays, around 90% of natural rubber is produced in Asia, with Thailand and Indonesia being the most important rubber suppliers (supplying more than 60% of the world's natural rubber).
Where is natural rubber found?
Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are the largest producers of natural rubber in the world. Figures from the World Trade organisation indicate the following worldwide natural rubber production in 1998. Natural rubber comes from the Havea brasiliensis tree, which grows in tropical regions.
Where do rubber trees grow?
Rubber trees are grown in regions that are hot and moist, that is: in Africa (250 000 tons of natural rubber); in Central and South America (31 700 tons of natural rubber) in Asia, which is the chief producer (3 207 100 tons of natural rubber).
Who invented rubber?
Charles Goodyear was born on December 29, 1800 in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1834, he began experimenting with natural rubber. In 1839, he accidentally discovered the process of vulcanization. He struggled to patent it, as Thomas Hancock had recently patented vulcanized rubber.
Is rubber a plastic?
The main distinction between plastic and rubber is that plastic is basically an artificial compound whereas rubber is often found as a natural compound or is often made as an artificial compound.
How is rubber farmed?
Currently, rubber is harvested mainly in the form of the latex from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) or others. The latex is a sticky, milky and white colloid drawn off by making incisions in the bark and collecting the fluid in vessels in a process called "tapping".
How was rubber invented?
While vulcanized rubber — rubber that's been processed with heat and chemicals to increase its strength and stability — was invented in the 1800s, the Olmecs, Aztecs and Mayans were known to use the sap from these trees to create a natural rubber. They made rubber balls and boots around 1600 BC.
How did rubber get its name?
Rubber actually got its name when people in Britain figured out that it could be used to erase or "rub out" mistakes made with a pencil. These little blobs of bouncy stretchy stuff used to rub out errors were called "rubbers." The British still call them that.
How does rubber come from trees?
Natural rubber is made by extracting a liquid sap, called latex, from certain types of tree. ... These trees are native to South America but are today commonly found in Southeast Asia. Latex is gathered from the trees by making a cut in the bark and collecting the runny sap in cups. This process is called tapping.
Can you grow a rubber tree from a leaf?
Native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, rubber trees (Ficus elastica) can be readily propagated by stem or leaf cuttings. These easy-to-grow houseplants are just as easy to propagate and have a high rate of success.
Where does rubber come from in Africa?
Africa had five leading producers of rubber which were French Guinea, Angola, The Gold Coast, French Congo, and probably the most important of them all is the Congo Free State. The Ivory Coast and German East Africa also experienced booms of their own. As the production of rubber grew so did the demand for it.
When did rubber come out?
The first serious accounts of rubber production and the primitive Native American system of manufacture were given in the 18th century by Charles-Marie de La Condamine, a member of a French geographic expedition sent to South America in 1735.
How did Goodyear start?
In 1898, Frank Seiberling established the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. The company was named for Charles Goodyear, the man who developed vulcanized rubber. Seiberling borrowed 3,500 dollars from a brother-in-law to purchase the company's first factory.
What is Goodyear known for?
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is an American multinational tire manufacturing company founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling and based in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-moving machinery.
Does rubber decompose?
Natural rubber is made from plants. Therefore, it is biodegradable. This means it will start to decompose when you throw it away. The facts are different when it comes to synthetic rubber.
Can we recycle rubber?
This is seen with items such as paper, plastic, metal, glass, and even water—but can rubber be recycled? The short answer is that unquestionably, rubber can be recycled to create a large amount of recycled rubber products that are utilized in some very common, and some very interesting ways.
What is natural rubber?
What is Natural Rubber? Natural rubber is a natural polymer of organic compound isoprene obtained from the bark of tropical and subtropical trees. The milky white fluid which is obtained from trees is called latex. This is the reason natural rubber is also known as latex.
