Introduction

Natural rubber is an elastomer (an elastic hydrocarbon polymer) that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be tapped, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined into a usable rubber. The purified form of natural rubber is the chemical polyisoprene, which can also be produced synthetically. Natural rubber is used extensively in many applications and products, as is synthetic rubber. It is normally very stretchy and flexible and extremely waterproof.

Sources The commercial source of natural rubber latex is the para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. This species is grown in a large number because it responds to wounding by producing more latex, also this means that the tree is able to photosynthesise more. Other plants containing latex include gutta-percha (Palaquium gutta),] rubber fig (Ficus elastica), Panama rubber tree (Castilla elastica), spurges (Euphorbia spp.), lettuce, common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz), Scorzonera (tau-saghyz), and guayule (Parthenium argentatum). Although these have not been major sources of rubber, Germany attempted to use some of these during World War II when it was cut off from rubber supplies. These attempts were later supplanted by the development of synthetic rubbers. To distinguish the tree-obtained version of natural rubber from the synthetic version, the term gum rubber is sometimes used.

Properties

PROPERTIES OF NATURAL RUBBER: *Crude rubber is a tough and an elastic solid. It becomes soft and sticky as the temperature rises. *Its specific gravity is 0.915. *The most important property of natural rubber is its elasticity. When stretched, it expands and attains its original state, when released. This is due to its coil-like structure. The molecules straighten out when stretched and when released, they coil up again. Therefore applying a stress can easily deform rubber. Note that when this stress is removed, it retains its original shape. *Raw natural rubber has elasticity over a narrow range of temperature from 10 to 60 degrees centigrade. Because of this, articles made of raw natural rubber don't work well in hot weather. *Raw natural rubber has low tensile strength and abrasion resistant. *It absorbs large quantities of water. *It is insoluble in water, alcohol, acetone, dilute acids and alkalis. *It is soluble in ether, carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachloride, petrol and turpentine. *Pure rubber is a transparent, amorphous solid, which on stretching or prolonged cooling becomes crystalline.

Vulcanization
Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives." These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks (bridges) between individual polymer chains.[1] Vulcanized material is less sticky and has superior mechanical properties. A vast array of products are made with vulcanized rubber including tires, shoe soles, hoses, and hockey pucks.

Unvulcanized natural rubber is sticky, deforms easily when warm, and is brittle when cold. In this state, it is a poor material when a high level of elasticity is required. The reason for inelastic deformation of un-vulcanized rubber can be found in its chemical structure: rubber is composed of long polymer chains. These chains can move independently relative to each other, which lets the material change shape. Crosslinking introduced by vulcanization prevents the polymer chains from moving independently. As a result, when stress is applied the vulcanized rubber deforms, but upon release of the stress, the article reverts to its original shape.

Schematic presentation of two strains (blue and green) of natural rubber after vulcanization with elemental sulfur.

Vulcanization methods A variety of methods exist for vulcanization. The economically most important method (vulcanization of tires) uses high pressure and temperature. A typical vulcanization temperature for a passenger tire is 10 minutes at 170 C. This type of vulcanization is called compression molding. The rubber article is intended to adopt the shape of the mold. Other methods, for instance to make door profiles for cars, use hot air vulcanization or microwave heated vulcanization (both continuous processes). Six types of curing systems are in common use. They are:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Sulfur systems Peroxides Urethane crosslinkers Metallic oxides Duece Acetoxysilane

History of rubber Charles Goodyear In 1837, Charles Goodyear received his first patent (US patent #240) for a process that made rubber an easier product to work with. However, this was not the patent Charles Goodyear is best known for.

In 1843, Charles Goodyear discovered that if you removed the sulphur from rubber then heated it, it would retain its elasticity. This process called vulcanization made rubber waterproof and winter-proof and opened the door for a enormous market for rubber goods. On June 24, 1844, Charles Goodyear was granted patent #3,633 for vulcanized rubber.