Rubber manufacturing involves a complex process. This is unlike plastic or steel where only three or four materials are required. Rubber requires blending of up to 20 different materials. On the other hand, there is no standard formula that can fit all applications. Instead, the formula used depends on the type of rubber product you wish to end up with. Manufacturers keep customizing the formular so as to suit the needs of the customer. A lot of chemical reactions are undertaken during processing of rubber. More than 70 percent of the rubber products that you know of are made from synthetic rubber.
Below are a few things about rubber that are worth knowing:
- The chemical state of rubber: The name “rubber” was coined in a very interesting and humble way. Joseph Priestly, an English scientist discovered that the material could rub or erase a pencil mark. The name has never changed since then. Rubber is a polymer, both in synthetic and natural forms. This is a chain of molecules that combine together in a repetitive form. Polymers are made up of monomers. Natural rubber contains more than 100,000 monomers.
- Natural rubber: In its natural forms, rubber comes from the sap of Hevea Brasiliensis or rubber tree. These trees are mainly found in parts of Southeast Asia and Africa. Farmers make small cuts in the barks of their rubber trees. This results in the flow of latex which is a thick substance that looks like milk. The latex is then blended with water or other coagulants to makes it thicker. Rubber manufacturing firms who have contracted farmers collect the sheets of rubber produced and take them to their factories for further processing.
- Artificial rubber: This is also known as synthetic rubber. It involves a mixture of petroleum by-products, styrene and butadiene. Soapsuds are then added to the mixture resulting in latex. Upon drying, the latex is made into rubber bales. Most of the rubber products you see around are made from synthetic rubber.
- Vulcanization: The process was first discovered by Charles Goodyear. It is still used in rubber manufacturing today. In fact there is a rubber manufacturer based in the US that bears his name. In this process, sulfur is added to a solution of hot latex. This results in a stronger rubber structure. The rate and measure used in vulcanization varies according to the type of product intended. It could be a shoe sole, pencil eraser or car tire.
Rubber manufacturing is responsible for products such as tires, shoes, erasers and mountings to name just but a few. Rubber can also be recycled and used elsewhere. Rubber products are sold through dealerships and franchises. The manufacturers partner with a network of distribution outlets some of which they own directly.
Most of the rubber manufacturing processes today involve the man-made forms of rubber. Synthetic rubber has high tolerance levels as compared to the natural type. Get more insights on visit us website.
