Types of Rubber
The two primary categories into which the various rubber types can be divided are Natural Rubber and Synthetic Rubber. Vulcanized rubber is sometimes considered to be a form of rubber as well. Let’s discuss these different types of Rubber:
- Natural Rubber – Natural rubber is the type of rubber obtained naturally from the milky liquid or latex obtained from the rubber tree. It is also known as India or gum rubber. Natural rubber can be vulcanized into many different types of rubber products
- Synthetic Rubber – Synthetic rubber is a man-made or artificial polymer. This rubber is an artificial elastomer obtained by synthesizing petroleum products under controlled conditions. An example of synthetic rubber is Neoprene which is made up of monomer unit chloroprene.
- Vulcanized Rubber – Vulcanized rubber is the substance that is obtained after the vulcanization of natural rubber. Vulcanization is the process that is done to improve the properties of natural rubber; so that, it can have more desirable properties.
Rubber
Rubber is a natural product made by plants. Throughout the history of humanity and the rise of human civilizations, rubber has played a significant role. Today, we obtain 99% of the natural rubber we use from a tree known as Hevea brasiliensis. Hence, rubber is an elastic material produced from the emission of some tropical plants (natural rubber) or extracted from petroleum and natural gas (synthetic rubber). Rubber is an elastic, flexible, and tough substance therefore, it can be used to manufacture tires for vehicles, aircraft, bicycles, etc.