BASIC TECHNOLOGY: Basic 9

RUBBER AND PLASTIC PROCESSING

Performance Objectives:
At the end of this class, you should be able to:
1. Explain the treatment of rubber
2. Define Vulcanisation
3. Describe the uses of rubber
4. Mention the botanical name for rubber tree
 PROCESSING OF RUBBER
RUBBER
Natural rubber is produced from a wide variety of
plants, but predominantly from Hevea
brasiliensis , a tall softwood tree originating in
Brazil. The largest producing countries are
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka,
and China.
Elastic substance obtained from the exudations of
certain tropical plants (natural rubber) or
derived from petroleum and natural gas
(synthetic rubber).
The latex found in the inner bark of H.
brasiliensis is obtained by tapping—cutting or
shaving the bark with a sharp knife—and
collecting the latex in cups. Solid rubber is
coagulated from the fluid by the addition of
chemicals, such as formic acid, that cause the
rubber to form curds on the surface of the
liquid. Because of its elasticity, resilience, and
toughness, rubber is the basic constituent of
the tires used in automotive vehicles, aircraft,
and bicycles.
The same properties make it useful for
machine belting and hoses of all kinds.
Rubber is also used in electrical insulation,
and because it is waterproof, it Is a favoured
material for shoe soles.
Despite the competition of synthetic rubber,
natural rubber continues to hold an
important place; its resistance to heat
buildup makes it valuable for tires used on
racing cars, trucks, buses, and airplanes.
 TREATMENT OF NATURAL RUBBER
In order to have natural rubber with good
quality in terms of durability, ability to
withstand high temperature, hardness,
elasticity and tensile strength, the rubber
must be treated by heating it with sulphur at a
high temperature. The process of treating
sulphur with rubber is called vulcanisation