Resources —
How Rubber is Made
The amazingly versatile rubber comes from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree. Rubber may be very hard and rigid or very soft and pliable. It can be extruded or molded into numerous shapes, whipped into soft foam, bonded to metal or fabric, rolled into sheets or mixed with other materials. Its unique properties of resilience, strength and flexibility make natural rubber vital for products as diverse as radial tires, carpet backing, golf ball thread and surgical gloves, as well as thousands of other products used in a variety of industries.
The production of latex begins when workers "tap" trees. Workers, or tappers, skillfully make a spiral cut in the bark at the optimum depth to achieve the greatest latex flow without damaging the tree. After three hours, workers collect the latex and transport it to collection stations. A small amount of ammonia is added at the collection stations to help preserve and stabilize the latex. The latex is transported by tank truck to the processing plant, where it is checked for quality and then blended. Latex meeting strict control specifications is then fed into a battery of centrifuges, which concentrate the latex from approximately 30 percent total solids content to around 62 percent total solids. Additional ammonia and/or other preservatives are added, and the latex is again tested to ensure product quality.
The latex is allowed to mature, permitting certain naturally occurring chemical reactions to take place before final quality adjustments are made. The latex is again tested and then transported to the Port of Monrovia. Each month, one of Firestone Natural Rubber Company's specially designed ships leaves Monrovia with a cargo of Hartex Natural Latex. After unloading, the latex is tested again to ensure it meets the highest quality standards before shipment by drum, tote or tank truck to customers.
