Hobbies And Interests
Cultivation
Seedlings are usually imported to hot and wet tropical or subtropical climates from the Amazon Basin, where rubber trees and vines evolved millions of years ago. The equatorial ring around the world, in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia are the ideal locations for rubber plantation cultivars. Rubber trees must be matured at least six years before they can be tapped.
Collection
Rubber trees and vines are tapped by tiny slits into the capillaries of the trees, similarly to the way maple syrup is tapped in American and Canadian forests. The substance that drains from these plants is actually naturally occurring latex, which has to be removed and treated before it coagulates and becomes useless for making rubber. Before being shipped to industrial centers, latex is treated with an anticoagulant like ammonia to keep the product in liquid form.
Vulcanization
Vulcanization was discovered by accident in the 19th century by Charles Goodyear who spilled sulfur on natural rubber to create a much tougher and sturdier product. When natural rubber is melted together in industrial vats, it is only stable until it cools. When reaching peak temperatures, the vulcanizing agent is added to the melted rubber.
Molding
Vulcanized rubber need to be forced into molds so it can cool in its final shape because vulcanized rubber that hardens outside of a desired shape takes much more energy, chemical treatment and heat than natural rubber to melt down into a pliable, liquid state.