Natural rubber is a fascinating polymeric material derived from the milky white latex extracted from trees of the Hevea genus. It is essentially a polymer of isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadi-ene) and its distinctive physical and chemical properties, such as elasticity, durability, and impermeability, have resulted in its widespread use in modern society. Close to 10 million metric tons of natural rubber are produced in the world every year, with applications ranging from elastic bands and tires to containers and insulators. Although natural rubber is primarily an agricultural product, a variety of synthetic rubbers are also made in a large industrial scale from petroleum feedstocks, including isoprene, butadiene, ethylene, and styrene.
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