Natural Caoutchouc

Natural Caoutchouc, known as natural rubber, is the leachate of a variety of plants that are said to date back several million years. Today, natural Caoutchouc is used in many rubber industries due to its high elasticity. This natural material is used in the manufacture of all kinds of home appliances, hospital equipment and many play equipment.

History of Caoutchouc

For the first time during World War II, rubber was used under the name of synthetic Caoutchouc. The proliferation of synthetic rubber since the mid-1960s has led to a massive rubber industry. Meanwhile, due to the high resistance of synthetic rubber to natural rubber against chemicals, as well as resistance to heat and oil, the prosperity of artificial Caoutchouc is better than the natural type of this material.

What is Caoutchouc?

Caoutchouc is a white liquid from the leachate of some plants known as natural Caoutchouc. It contains starch, protein, alkaloids and other substances that, before being used in the rubber industry, as part of a plant, play a role in repairing plant tissues and preventing the loss of fluid within the plant. By doing this, the Caoutchouc is considered as a protection against the entry of dangerous bacteria and viruses into the plant.

Natural Caoutchouc Unlike synthetic Caoutchouc produced by petrochemical companies, it can supply the required latex alone in the plant itself. In other words, natural Caoutchoucs are composed of long chains of polymers of the organic compound isoprene with some impurities and water. Which are loosely connected to each other and when detached, this chain is reconnected and becomes tensile. By vulcanizing or heating the rubber with sulfur, this elasticity can be increased, which we will explain later.

How is Caoutchouc made?

First, the sap of the tree must be removed. For this purpose, the bark of the tree is cut and leachate is collected in containers. The important point is that dishes should not be used for a long time uncleaned as it will lead to rotting and contamination of the leachate. The collected leachate is passed through a strainer and then protected by adding some ammonia.

After these steps, it is necessary to separate the tire from the tap water. For this purpose, we have to add salts and acids to the mixture and separate it from the water by coagulating the rubber. Finally, the resulting rubber will be a white doughy mass that separates from the liquid and is dried in sheets. They make the obtained material more resistant during various reactions and changes and create different forms by extrusion. Then, by vulcanizing action, they increase its tensile strength and strength.

A new way to get tap water

One of the new methods used today is to turn the coagulated leachate into small granules with the help of rotating blades or rollers that rotate at high speed. Then, as in the previous step, these grains are dried in large mechanical dryers.

The dried grains are compacted and natural Caoutchouc is poured into a blender during steps such as vulcanization ( heat With sulfur ), filler or soot, usually carbon, oil as a rubber softener, and delay material. After a few minutes, take it out and cut it into slices to cool it faster. During the next steps, the resulting tire must be heated. Of course, the heat should not be too high because it will interfere in the later stages.

To create high elasticity, sulfur is added to the resulting rubber and heated. During this process, the polymer rubber chains are opened and bonded with sulfur, and natural rubber becomes elastic. At this stage, the obtained rubber can be used with high strength and traction.

Types of Caoutchouc

Natural Kaucho: In Hevea leachate, there are natural rubbers that are formed from the polymerization of hydrocarbons called methyl and butadiene known as isoprene. By heating the Caoutchouc with sulfur, the double bond opens inside the natural Caoutchouc and absorbs the sulfur atom. By doing this, natural Caoutchouc becomes natural rubber.

Synthetic Caoutchouc : Synthetic Caoutchouc is made by vulcanizing or heating Caoutchouc with sulfur. The rubber produced is called vulcanized Caoutchouc . Of course, synthetic rubber can also be made by making other compounds. Chloroprene, for example, is easily polymerized to form a type of synthetic Caoutchouc called neoprene.

Properties of natural Caoutchouc

Natural Caoutchoucs have higher strength and flexibility than other synthetic rubbers. It is resistant to cutting, abrasion, high pressure, tension and even water and some chemicals. Natural Caoutchouc is sticky and easily adheres to materials. Due to its high tensile strength, it is one of the best natural rubbers used in industry.

Weaknesses: Natural Caoutchouc, although resistant to water and some chemicals, is not resistant to oil and non-polar solvents, and more resistant to heat, light and ozone than the neoprene mentioned earlier. Is vulnerable.

What is the difference between natural and synthetic Caoutchouc?

As mentioned earlier, in terms of Making, natural Caoutchouc is taken from the sap of the air and is made by polymerizing some hydrocarbons. While synthetic Caoutchouc is obtained by heating Caoutchouc with sulfur. In terms of resistance to various materials, synthetic Caoutchouc can be considered more durable. Because these materials are more resistant to heat, oil and non-polar compounds than natural Caoutchouc. Synthetic Caoutchouc is also more resistant to oxidation than natural Caoutchouc.

On this account, it can be said that in the rubber industry and their application in other industries, the synthetic Caoutchouc market has a better situation and has had higher annual sales.

Application of Caoutchouc

The use of Caoutchouc or rubber has expanded over time in everyday life. It is used in all kinds of household products, toys, hospitals and many others. Caoutchouc is used in the automotive industry, doors and windows, even the smallest items such as hoses, gaskets and mattresses.

Due to its strength and compressibility, natural Caoutchouc is used in engineering industries such as anti-vibration bases, springs, rubber bands, bearings and adhesives.

Because natural Caoutchoucs are highly heat resistant, they are used in high-strength tires for race cars, airplanes, and buses.

In terms of adhesion, we can mention natural Caoutchoucs in rubber cement and soil stabilizing materials that fall under the asphalt of roads.

Natural Caoutchouc of Asa Sanat Satia Company

In this article, we have tried to introduce you to the great world of Caoutchouc and explain the science of natural Caoutchouc production to you. If you are going to buy all kinds of raw materials for plastic production. Asa Sanat Satia Trading Company, importer and supplier of rubber raw materials, can accompany you in purchasing these materials to make various types of rubber and natural plastics.