Natural and synthetic rubber has a significant role in the rubber industry, and both are in high demand from manufacturers. Because of the differences between how natural and synthetic rubber are manufactured and their properties, both types of rubber are useful for various applications. In this article, we examine the differences between natural and synthetic rubber, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Natural Rubber
Hevea brasiliensis, or the Pará rubber tree, is the most common source of natural rubber. This native Brazilian plant is now grown in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Vietnam, among other countries in South and Southeast Asia. Natural rubber can also be obtained from other plants, such as the Panama rubber tree, rubber fig, and common dandelion. Many people, however, prefer Hevea brasiliensis for commercial purposes.
Latex is extracted from the plant and is used to create rubber. Natural rubber is an elastomer, which means it is elastic and can return to its original form after being stretched. Natural rubber is most commonly used in tires and footwear, which are used in a variety of industries, including automotive and footwear industries. Despite the introduction of human-made rubber, the natural rubber industry has developed over the last 100 years.
The industry’s growth has been based on research and production of natural rubber and technology to help and extend an ever-growing number of applications of natural rubber. Natural Rubber slippers are loved by many people.
Many products like tires and footwear are made with the help of natural rubber, and Latex products are used in the fight against AIDS and other diseases that are transmitted from one human to another human. Natural rubber comes in a variety of grades. The distinction between latex and solid grades is, however, the most critical. The substance that emerges from the tree is known as latex. Latex is also completely safe because it can be recycled and can be used to make new rubber products, and the trees that produce latex don’t have to be cut down.
Synthetic Rubber
The polymerization of monomers into polymers can be used to make synthetic rubber. This can be accomplished in one of two ways: solution polymerization or emulsion polymerization. Before the polymerization process, there are several different forms of synthetic rubbers made up of different monomers. Synthetic rubber may have a variety of properties and applications due to the artificially manufactured polymers. Personal protective equipment, shoe soles, and rubber bands are only a few examples of synthetic rubber’s use.
Advantages Of Natural Rubber Over Synthetic Rubber
- First Advantage
The natural rubber has many advantages over synthetic rubber, including higher tensile strength, tear resistance, and low odor compared to synthetic rubber. Aside from that, natural rubber has unique properties that can’t be found in synthetic rubbers. Chemical resistance, fluid resistance, ozone resistance, electrical resistance, and other types of resistance can all be found in natural rubber. Natural rubbers can also have excellent heat tolerance, lower temperature resistance, and improved heat aging.
- Second Advantage
Another advantage to consider when deciding between natural and synthetic rubber is that natural rubber contains proteins like Hev b3 and Hev b1 that prevent allergic reactions in human skin. Natural rubber outperforms synthetic rubbers or combinations of synthetic rubbers in terms of overall properties.
- Third Advantage
Thailand is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and producers of natural rubber. Natural rubber is currently harvested primarily in the form of latex (a sticky, milky colloid liquid) by tapping into the tree and transporting the latex, which is mostly coagulated, to a processing plant. Latex is mixed with water and is acid-treated before being rolled into sheets, dried, and shipped to produce the various products.
The main advantage of natural rubber is that natural rubber comes from trees and environmentally friendly. The product’s harvesting and use have a lower environmental impact because the harvesting process doesn’t require any heavy machinery. Natural rubber is not only safe for the environment, but it is also biodegradable and is completely recyclable.
Conclusion
The article will clear all of your doubts about natural rubber and why you should prefer natural rubber over synthetic rubber. By reading this article, you will know that natural rubber has health benefits and is also suitable for our environment because of its natural properties.
