Natural rubber (NR)

Natural raw material without petroleum

Natural rubber (NR for short) is a natural elastomer obtained from the sap of rubber trees and rubber plants. Due to its natural occurrence, natural rubber, also known as gum elasticum, is one of the first elastomers used by man. Its traces date back to the 16th century. As early as that time, rubber balls were manufactured for ritual games in Central America.

Today, natural rubber impresses with its sustainability. Because it comes from plant sap, it is one of the few elastomers that do not require any petroleum at all. Its low price and good elastic properties make NR a raw material that is still in demand and in great demand for a wide range of technical products. Learn more about this unique natural product here. Sattler SCM also has the right raw materials for your product.

The advantages of the natural substance over synthetic alternatives

Natural rubber is one of the most sustainable elastomers of all. Its harvest from rubber plants is possible with only a minimum of fossil raw materials. In addition, the sap-giving trees can release NR over many years. With correspondingly extensive cultivation of the plantations, gentle and sustainable production is possible over decades. In addition, natural rubber has the following advantages over other synthetic elastomers:

  • more elastic than many synthetic rubbers
  • very resilient and dimensionally stable
  • inexpensive to manufacture and process
    In addition, natural rubber is extremely water-repellent. Rubber boots made of NR, for example, are a highly sought-after and at the same time very robust article. In addition, natural rubber can be adapted and modified as desired.

Natural rubber can be customized and modified as desired

As a rule, NR is vulcanized in the course of the production process and further processed into rubber products. In this process, NR is thermally processed over a longer process in such a way that permanent chemical changes occur within the elastomer chains. This process can, for example, enormously increase abrasion resistance.

Like some other elastomers, natural rubber can also be foamed and is thus used in mattresses, for example.

From chewing gum to car tires: The wide range of applications for NR

Due to its great robustness, especially after vulcanization, NR is mainly used where there is a need for inexpensive and at the same time extremely robust products. Examples are:

  • Car tires - a wide variety of rubber compounds are developed for summer and winter tires
  • Rubber boots - are extremely robust and, in combination with metals and Kevlar, fulfill almost every protection class
  • Pacifiers - must not only be food-safe and robust, but also hypoallergenic
  • Yoga mats - foamed rubber here provides long-lasting protection for athletes from the uncomfortable gym floor
    Other products made from natural rubber include balloons, molds, gloves, condoms and chewing gum.

Take advantage of our expertise in processing natural rubber for your workpiece.

At Sattler SCM, we combine many years of expertise around elastomers with state-of-the-art process technologies. Our focus is on providing our customers with professional and comprehensive advice throughout the entire production process. Feel free to contact us with your ideas. Together with you, we will develop and manufacture a unique and customized product. Since we have complete control at every stage of the development and production process, it is possible for us to intervene at any time, make adjustments if necessary and develop the optimum product for you. Do not hesitate and contact us now. Our experts are looking forward to hearing from you.

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