Earlier than the arrival of artificial supplies, pure rubber performed a vital position in numerous industries because of its distinctive properties of elasticity and water resistance. Charles Goodyear’s discovery of the vulcanization course of in 1839 reworked pure rubber right into a sturdy and versatile materials, increasing its purposes considerably. The phrase “as soon as human finest strategy to frm rubber” encapsulates the historic significance of pure rubber as a foundational materials earlier than the event of artificial options.
Pure rubber is obtained from the milky sap, often known as latex, of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). The latex is collected by a course of referred to as tapping, the place incisions are made on the bark of the tree to permit the latex to move out. The collected latex is then processed to take away impurities and coagulate it into strong rubber. This pure rubber possesses distinctive elasticity, power, and resistance to put on and tear, making it appropriate for a variety of purposes, together with tires, hoses, belts, and medical units.