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Natural rubber: how it is produced and main uses

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The main characteristics of natural rubber

Natural rubber is a widely present product in our everyday life. Yet, still today there are many doubts about it: how is it produced and what are its potential? In this regard, the first thing to know is that we have a material produced thanks to the latex of the rubber tree, whose scientific name is Hevea brasiliensis. As the name also implies, we are talking about a type of trees that originally grew only in certain areas of Brazil.

Although it is a plant that prefers the natural habitat of the central Amazon, nowadays various crops with the rubber tree can be found practically all over Southeast Asia. The latter is an area where the climate is particularly favorable for the growth of this plant and which currently covers almost all of the world’s needs.

Natural rubber accounts for approximately 40% of the total amount of rubber used and present in the world. However, synthetic rubber made in suitable industrial complexes is often preferred, since it has lower production costs and a more controllable constancy of characteristics. At the same time, synthetic rubber has properties that natural rubber does not have.

The manufacturing process

As for the rubber processing process, it is useful to know that the latex is collected from the tree thanks to an incision on the bark of the vegetable. The liquid comes out of the tree and begins to drip, thus being collected in special containers. Once the collection has been carried out, the buckets with the latex are taken to collection tanks. Thanks to the reaction due to exposure with acidic reagents, the white liquid coagulates, like milk with rennet.

Once coagulated, the natural rubber is pressed into sheets and transported to special factories where the process of compaction into bales is carried out. Only subsequently, at destination and depending on the needs, the material is specially processed to obtain belts, tires, gaskets, insulating materials and many other products.

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Some curiosities about rubber

In large part, rubber is used to make tires for aircraft, trucks and cars. To produce just one small tire, latex from over four rubber trees is needed (unfortunately) and harvesting, as well as being manual, is long and linked to natural cycles. It is interesting to consider that natural rubber could be produced even in the absence of these trees and using some shrubs and plants but with extremely limited productivity. Some modern studies also by large multinationals foresee the cultivation of these species even at latitudes like ours, with promising results in terms of latex quality, but far from the quantities of sub-tropical regions.


The current plantations of Hevea are very extensive, but they are slowly changing and in some cases getting sick and by their nature they need a lot of attention and it is advisable to plant the trees not very close to each other. In fact, it seems that, if they are too close to a distance, they quickly become more vulnerable to diseases and especially to the attack of an aggressive fungus. The parasitic fungus damages the structure of natural rubber trees and compromises their proper development.

This is also one of the reasons why production in Brazil is struggling to restart as it should. Fortunately, in Asia this fungus is almost completely absent and very strictly controlled, which is why there are no major problems with the growth and use of rubber trees. Even some ornamental plants that we keep at home, such as the “Ficus Elastica” with large and rounded leaves, produce a latex very similar to that of Hevea and in some cases it is also used.

Natural rubber or artificial rubber?

Natural rubber is widely used in the production of food products. It is also used for many other applications, as we said before. However, many times it is preferred to use synthetic rubbers, which have many properties that the natural one cannot guarantee. Artificial materials are great for manufacturing most everyday products.

Many types of synthetic rubbers are used instead of natural rubber for the production of industrial items such as gaskets, sleeves, grommets that will have to resist oil, sea water, intense cold such as ozone or very high temperatures, up to at 250 ° C and above. Operating in this sector, we can say with certainty that in many of these cases the synthetic ones are much more suitable than the natural solution. They guarantee those properties that are needed to make work what they were designed and applied for. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

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EPDM rubber and neoprene: technical characteristics, temperatures and properties

by All articlesEPDMIndustrial anti-vibration mountsindustrial gasketsIndustrial-itemsNeopreneRubber

EPDM rubber and neoprene: technical characteristics, temperatures and properties

The world of synthetic rubber offers us numerous materials, which boast different characteristics. EPDM rubber and neoprene, which is actually the trademark of the DUPONT company of the “POLYCLOROPRENE” polymer, are part of these elements and present themselves as excellent solutions for different uses. (The name “NEOPRENE has become so common that even among technicians, to” save time “we talk about neoprene and not polychloroprene)
The first rubber is made up of ethylene and propylene copolymers, and a diene monomer, the components of the material that also give life to the acronym EPDM. It is a product that has the very interesting characteristic of resisting aging in an excellent way from atmospheric agents. What therefore makes it the material of choice, for example, for the production of car door seals.
EPDM rubber is very different from neoprene. The latter is also an elastomer, which however is produced thanks to the polymerization reaction of 2-chlorine 1.3-butadiene. It has a very particular composition and smell, which has come into common use for years: it is in fact one of the bases for the production of “Bostik” type glues. Let’s go into detail and see what there is to know about these two types of tires.

Two versatile, functional and highly appreciated materials

Those who know EPDM rubber know perfectly well that this material boasts excellent resistance to atmospheric agents and heat, usually ensuring a working temperature from -50 ° C to + 150 ° C. It is also very resistant to steam, action and contact with ozone and atmospheric agents. It also offers interesting electrical insulation properties and a fair resistance to alkaline substances, diluted acids and polar solvents. On the contrary, it is very sensitive to oils and fats and in general to all apolar and waxy substances.


This rubber also ensures excellent mechanical and dielectric properties, good resistance to abrasion, permanent deformation and UV radiation. Neoprene, on the other hand, is, depending on the formulation, flexible and resistant and is excellent for applications with sea water and exposed to atmospheric agents in general. It offers good thermal insulation and excellently resists numerous chemical agents and petroleum derivatives. This elastomer ensures a working temperature from -20 ° C to + 110 ° C. Its most famous application, in the form of foam material, thanks to its resistance to sea water, is for the production of diving suits.

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How are these synthetic rubbers used?

Due to their characteristics, EPDM rubber and neoprene are used for the production of numerous products. The first is mainly used as an insulating material. It is excellent, for example, for joining electrical cables and for creating layers of insulation and waterproofing on roofs. It is also used for the production of geo membranes and thermoplastic and mechanical products.

This material can be combined with other substances, in particular with polyurethane binders, and be used in the building sector, especially for the creation of non-slip surfaces.

Neoprene is often used in the chemical and automotive industries. It is also used in the marine industry and for the production of protective coatings and clothing. It is a material with very low breathability, a property that makes it a protagonist in the production of diving suits.

Industrial gaskets in EPDM rubber and neoprene

In addition to the aforementioned uses, it is important to consider that both materials lend themselves well to the realization of a wide range of industrial applications. Therefore, they allow you to produce excellent technical articles, some simpler and others more elaborate. In particular, EPDM rubber and neoprene are used for the production of industrial gaskets. This is because they are very elastic, flexible and resistant to high and low temperatures. They are very versatile and withstand wear and the action of many chemical agents well.


We at Cavallero Gomma are specialized in the production of industrial items and we know very well EPDM rubber and neoprene. Therefore, we put ourselves at your disposal and at the service of your company, proposing the creation of customized, functional, reliable and long-lasting products. You tell us your idea and your goals, and we show you the best solutions. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

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Types of tires: properties and differences

by All articlesEPDMIndustrial anti-vibration mountsindustrial gasketsIndustrial-itemsNeopreneRubber


Many types of tires, for all tastes and needs

There are different types of tires and each of them boasts distinct properties and characteristics. These differences mean that one product is good for one use and another is better suited for other purposes.


The first distinction to be made in this case is the following: to date there are two main types of rubbers available, natural and synthetic ones. The latter are then divided into groups which include materials with similar characteristics, in particular in terms of chemical composition. Let’s go into detail and find out what you should know about the best known and used solutions in the different sectors for the production of various items.

Natural rubbers

As anticipated, between the two main types of tires currently available to industries, we find the natural one. It is a completely vegetable product, which is obtained mainly from the latex of the Hevea brasiliensis tree. This latex is treated and undergoes numerous processes, until it becomes the rubber we know.
This material is very performing from a mechanical point of view. However, it also appears as a very fragile product when in contact with some chemical elements and when exposed to too high temperatures. It is also heavily affected by thermal excursions, which greatly affect the seal of natural rubber. Precisely for these reasons, other types of tires have been developed, able to guarantee what this product cannot offer.

The types of synthetic rubber

When we talk about synthetic rubbers we refer to products that obviously have been created through the combination of different materials and substances. The base from which we start is that of hydrocarbon, which is produced through the processing of an artificial latex. Subsequently, thanks to the addition of other elements, many types of tires can be made. Each of them is created through a different mix of components and materials. Therefore, they are different products with different properties.


These synthetic materials are very resistant. They do not undergo variations in the face of changes in temperature and offer an elasticity that allows them to be used successfully in many sectors of industry. The types of synthetic rubbers are divided into five different product groups, classified by a different letter: M, O, Q, R and U. Group O, for example, contains synthetic latex and oxygen. The tires that fall into the U group are instead made with a mix of synthetic latex, nitrogen, carbon and oxygen.

Types of tires: which is the best?

If you are wondering which type of rubber is better than the others, you will hardly find a single answer. In fact, there are no more performing types of tires: simply, each one is more suitable for a different use. For example, natural rubber is used for the creation of mechanically performing products and for food products and in contact with the skin. Synthetic ones, on the other hand, are exploited for the production of most of the products of daily and industrial use, in the presence of conditions that make natural rubber unusable or inadvisable.


Silicone rubbers, of synthetic origin, are used for the creation of VERY heat-resistant items, such as gaskets for ovens or in machinery with hot working for glass, for example, or for kitchen tools.
Many types of synthetic rubbers are used for the production of industrial items such as gaskets, sleeves, bellows, rings and suction cups. You will find some examples of these uses directly on our website. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.