Latex and rubber are essential parts of our lives, but many people are unaware of how common these materials are. So, let’s talk about the most interesting facts about rubber and latex and why they are so popular.
Rubber percentage in latex
The first thing we need to do is take a look at rubber trees and the production of latex. People often mix rubber and latex or even believe that these two substances are the same. But they are far from it. The substance people get from rubber trees is what we call latex. That is, latex is the milky white fluid that comes out of the tree. During the process called tapping, natural latex is collected and shipped to processing.
Some types of rubber trees contain natural rubber latex, which can be further processed (or refined) into rubber used in production. That means that rubber is just one of the elements of latex. And yes, it is possible to get latex without rubber.
If we take a look at numbers, only 10% of flowering plants produce latex. One of the most important parts that come with latex is rubber, and it is found in 12,000 different species. However, not every plant that contains rubber can be used for creating this material. Out of 20,000 species of plants that produce latex, only 2,500 can be used to create rubber.
How essential rubber is in latex products
Not every form of latex contains rubber, and this can be problematic. Rubber is one of the most important materials we use today. It is difficult to imagine a world today without rubber. We use this material to make anything from gloves to car tires, and rubber production is one of the biggest industries in the world.
So, the main question is what type of latex products we are talking about. If we take a look at all the laidtex products that use this substance, we can see how important it is. Rubber is used for cement, insulation, and as an adhesive. Furthermore, we use it for car tires, conveyor belts, boots, piping, and many more.
But not all of these products count as latex products, even though latex is their basis. And we can’t really imagine a world without rubber. So, the answer is that rubber is pretty much essential in a huge number of latex products.
How rubber impacts latex product quality
The term latex is used to describe any type of polymer microparticles solution in water. And the material can be quite delicate. If you take a look at latex clothing, it isn’t as durable as rubber.
Experimenting with rubber over the years shows that it can improve the mechanical properties of the material and improve it in many different ways. Boots made of rubber can withstand changes in temperature. They are durable and will last you for a long time. They are waterproof, and you can easily scrub them.
The material is not as delicate and gentle as latex, making maintenance significantly simpler. Hard rubber can be excellent for tires, pumps, piping, and in many different industries, and it only shows that the thermo-mechanical properties of rubber are superior.
Latex products that contains rubber
Listing all the products that contain latex in some form would be nearly impossible. We encounter this material on a daily basis. As we said, since rubber is made from latex, all rubber products will contain latex.
That means that we can find the combination in rubber bands, balloons, condoms, gloves, goggles, spandex, and even pacifiers and baby bottles. Additionally, car tires are made of rubber (at least to a degree), and synthetic latex is common for coating and some types of paint.
Of course, all of this refers to natural rubber latex, and there are synthetic versions of both latex and rubber you can find today. Synthetic rubber is used in the automotive industry along with natural one, and it can still contain elements of latex in it. The reason why we are surrounded by rubber is that the material is so good.
It offers mechanical properties like no other material, and there are many ways to use it. In fact, the popularity and usefulness of the material are the reason behind the recent rubber shortage. While scientists are working on an alternative, it won’t be easy replacing a product as good as rubber.
How rubber helps people experience good latex experience
People love wearing latex clothes and accessories. The material looks incredible, and wearing it feels like a second skin. But at the same time, not everyone has a great experience with latex. Some people are allergic to this material, and using it is impossible.
There are many different types of allergic reactions to latex, and they can vary from skin irritation to anaphylactic shock. And the only thing a person can do is completely avoid using latex. But it is possible to find types of rubber that don’t contain natural latex.
Rubber as an ingredient in latex will trigger the allergy, but using a synthetic one (and its products) is likely to go without any medical alerts.
