• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Universe / Where Does Rubber Come From?

Where Does Rubber Come From?

April 7, 2020 by Karen Hill

Rubber comes from a milky white juice which some trees and plants have instead of sap. This liquid, called latex, can be found in the roots, stems, branches, bark, leaves, and fruit of over 400 different plants. Most latex, however, comes from the inner bark of the hevea, or rubber tree, of Brazil.

To get the latex, workers cut narrow slits in the bark of the rubber tree at daybreak, for the latex flows easily when the air is still cool. The latex is then allowed to drip into cups attached to the tree for three hours.

The latex, which is 2/3 water, is then taken to a rubber factory quickly, for it spoils easily. There, it is heated and mixed with acid. This process causes the latex to coagulate, or form solid curds. These curds are crude rubber.

This crude rubber is next pressed through rollers to remove the water. It comes out in the form of sheets, much like crepe paper. These sheets are hung up to dry, then packed in bales for shipment to rubber manufacturers.

Between 40,000 and 50,000 different products are made from rubber. These include automobile tires, gaskets, belts, printing rollers, boots, raincoats, combs, gloves, balls, rafts, toys, paints, and mattresses.

The English word “rubber” was first used in 1770, when Joseph Priestly, an English chemist, discovered that latex could “rub out” pencil marks!

Related Facts

  • What is the Difference between Natural Rubber, Synthetic Rubber, and Silicone Rubber Kitchen Utensils?
  • Can the rubber tires of my bicycle offer the same protection from lightning as a car's rubber tires?
  • Who discovered rubber and Where did the word "rubber" originate?
  • Why Do Rubber Bands Melt and Disintegrate As They Age and How Does UV Light and Heat Speed Up the Process?
  • When the Treads On Tires Wear Out, Where Does All the Rubber Go?
  • Why Does Rubber Stretch?

Filed Under: Universe

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Why Do Flowers Have Different Smells and Colors?
Next Post: Why Can’t Anyone Wear the Rubber Belt? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy