Material Sourcing

Harvested mainly in the form of latex from mostly Hevea brasiliensis trees. These tall softwood trees are indigenous to subtropical and tropical countries.

Forming Methods

Latex is the common base to produce natural rubber. Applied to a mold, foamed, or applied to a mold as liquid in dip forming. One of the first uses was for pencil erasers. The major end use is for transportation sector – tires account for over 50% of consumption.

Sustainability

Recycled and reused. Ground down to crumbs and used as fillers in other products. Derived from renewable and raw materials. Biodegradable.

Physical Properties

Excellent adhesion/contact adhesion, rapidly renewable, elastic, resilient, amber color, sticky when wet, ages and becomes brittle, susceptible to fungi. Blends with lignin as a component have good mechanical properties and high degree of rigidity. Brownish color. Duroplastic qualities.