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Nowadays, there are multiple manufacturers out there who not only manufacture ‘natural rubber latex’ products but also ‘natural rubber’ products out there as well. Even though most people fail to realise this, there is a major difference between ‘latex’, ‘natural rubber’ and ‘natural rubber latex’.
In this article guide, we'll be going through some of the major differences that you need to know between these three types so that you'll be able to use them with enhanced clarity.
The History
Rubber as a material started being used in the 17th century and was invented by Joseph Priestley. During that time, it was being commonly used as an eraser, i.e. to rub out pencil marks. Also during that time, the name 'rubber' was coined by Joseph Priestley. The first rubber factory in the world was invented near Paris, France, in the year 1803.
Later onwards, another factory was again built in the year 1820 in England, the United Kingdom, followed by another one in the USA, in the year 1835. Four years later, in the year 1839, the process of vulcanisation of rubber was invented by Charles Goodyear - which thereby revolutionised the entire rubber industry including the textile industry in which it was used for textile flame retardant.
The Differences
Latex
The term 'latex' can be defined as any polymer that is simply water-based or liquid-based - which is thereby kept in a vicious state. For example, latex paint doesn't contain any traces of natural rubber, but it does contain synthetic polymers that are liquified. It should be known that the word latex doesn't mean that it's indicating natural rubber latex.
Natural Rubber
This term includes almost all of the materials that are made from natural latex. In simpler terms, it includes natural rubber latex, dry natural rubber, synthetic latex or synthetic rubber containing natural rubber in its formula and the like.
Natural Rubber Latex
Natural Rubber Latex mainly refers to the white sap that comes out of the rubber tree. This obtained sap can, therefore, be further refined and even compounded to help it to render being readily processed for further usage. Through this procedure, the properties of natural rubber latex are optimised as well. The products that are generally manufactured using natural rubber latex are very pure and also have enhanced physical properties such as being tear-resistant, used as bromine flame retardants, outstanding elongation and perform elongation recovery.
Some of the examples for this type of rubber include catheters, rubber gloves, tracheostomy tubes and so on.
Bonus: Dry Natural Rubber
This type of rubber was mainly manufactured using the DNR or Dry Natural Rubber process. The procedure involved the usage of coagulated natural latex in the form of milled or dried-up sheets of rubber. The products are formed using dry natural rubber are done by compression moulding, transforming the rubber sheets into a solution for dipping or via extrusion.
Some of the major examples of this type of rubber include syringe plungers, injection ports on intravascular tubing and also vial stoppers.
