Natural rubber

Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, caucho, or caoutchouc, as initially produced, consists of <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymers</a> of the organic compound <a href="/facts/Isoprene/8ArKUyzT">isoprene</a>, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. 
Types of <a href="/facts/Polyisoprene/XDNArVtr">polyisoprene</a> that are used as natural rubbers are classified as <a href="/facts/Elastomer/kCSD0udN">elastomers</a>. Currently, rubber is harvested mainly in the form of the <a href="/facts/Latex/c1lvjF0A">latex</a> from the <a href="/facts/Hevea_brasiliensis/05XcyefY">Pará rubber tree</a> (Hevea brasiliensis) or others. The latex is a sticky, milky and white colloid drawn off by making incisions in the bark and collecting the fluid in vessels in a process called "<a href="/facts/Rubber_tapping/qtb7o32b">tapping</a>". Manufacturers refine this latex into the rubber that is ready for commercial processing.
Natural rubber is used extensively in many applications and products, either alone or in combination with other materials. In most of its useful forms, it has a large stretch ratio and high resilience and also is buoyant and water-proof. Industrial demand for rubber-like materials began to outstrip natural rubber supplies by the end of the 19th century, leading to the synthesis of <a href="/facts/Synthetic_rubber/58Fq4XYx">synthetic rubber</a> in 1909 by chemical means. <a href="/facts/Thailand/GCUnN4JK">Thailand</a>, <a href="/facts/Malaysia/8zbUMzCP">Malaysia</a>, <a href="/facts/Indonesia/vQnWU3IW">Indonesia</a>, and <a href="/facts/Cambodia/t1wJd6GU">Cambodia</a> are four of the leading rubber producers.

Natural rubber open-in-new

Natural rubber