Natural Rubber, also known as Latex or Gum Rubber, is a versatile elastomer derived from the latex sap of certain types of trees, most notably the Rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliensis).
Natural Rubber or NR is a type of elastomer obtained from the latex extracted from rubber trees, specifically Hevea brasiliensis cultivated in plantations. These trees, commonly known as Pará rubber trees or simply rubber trees, hold immense economic significance as the primary source of this valuable material.
The milky latex sourced from these trees serves as the fundamental basis for natural rubber production. Harvesting this latex involves making angular incisions in the tree's bark, facilitating the flow of fluid, a process known as "tapping." The collected latex undergoes a series of refining procedures to prepare it for industrial processing, ultimately leading to the creation of natural rubber.
Ribbed Smoked Sheets commonly known as RSS are coagulated rubber sheets processed from fresh field latex. The production process involves several steps: Latex collection through tapping, coagulation using formic acid, sheet formation to achieve uniform thickness, ribbing to create parallel ridges or ribs on one side of the sheet. The sheets are air dried using natural air circulation or smoked in a specialized smoking chamber.
Technical Specified Rubber (TSR) also known as Block Rubber refers to a type of processed Natural Rubber that are manufactured according to defined technical specifications or standards. TSR is produced through a series of controlled processes, starting from the collection of latex or Field Coagulum. The latex or field Coagulum undergoes various processing steps including cleaning, blending, size reduction, drying, and packaging. These processes ensure that the rubber meets the desired quality standards.
Latex Crepe Rubber or also known as Pale Latex Crepe due to its white colour, is the purest form of Natural Rubber. It is manufactured by coagulating the field latex, followed by a process of rolling, drying and milling to produced crepe with standard thickness (thin or thick). The term "crepe" refers to the texture of the rubber, which has a wrinkled or crinkled appearance. The production of Latex Crepe primarily involves two key steps: fractionation and bleaching. Depending on the specific processing steps, Latex Crepe is inspected visually and divided into several grades. Though Pale Crepe is graded visually based on specific criteria outlined in the Green Book, depending on Customers specific requirements it may be manufactured to suit end user application.
Meticulously controlled right from the collection of fresh field latex sourced from smallholders, Concentrated Latex is pure and ranks among the cleanest raw materials in the rubber industry. Fresh field latex is preserved with added chemicals and then subjected to centrifugation to obtain Concentrated Latex. Centrifuging the latex is accomplished using a disc centrifuge, which separates the water to get the desired solidified rubber content. The discharged serum can be utilized as Skim Block. Various types of Latex Concentrates with a Dry Rubber Content (DRC) of up to 60% are produced through this centrifugation process. Quality is enhanced by precisely extracting a higher percentage of water through centrifugal (suction) processes. Ammonia is added during the process to preserve and prevent solidification. However, the exact concentration of additives varies depending on the specific requirements of customers.
Skim Crepe/Block is a by-product of Latex Concentrate. Following centrifugation, approximately 4-8 % of the total rubber along with a higher proportion of non-rubber substance remain in the serum phase, forming what is known as "Skim Latex." Through suitable methods involving neutralization and coagulation, this Skim Latex is converted to Skim Crepe or dried and marketed as Skim Block Rubber.
Natural Rubber Compound refers to a mixture or blend of Natural Rubber, with various additives and ingredients aimed at achieving specific properties for particular applications. While Natural Rubber is renowned for its elasticity, resilience, and strength, it may not inherently possess all the necessary characteristics for industrial or commercial purposes. Therefore, additives are introduced into the rubber compound to enhance properties such as durability, elasticity, resistance to abrasion, weathering, chemicals, and temperature. The composition of a Natural Rubber Compound varies based on the intended application and desired properties of the final product. Rubber Compound formulations are carefully developed and optimized through experimentation and are custom-made to meet the specific requirements of the end user
Application Finds its application in different industries such as automotive, construction, and consumer goods.