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Natural rubber (NR) is an elastic solid produced by processing a milky sap collected from specific plants. Its main component is polyisoprene, a polymer structure that endows it with unparalleled high elasticity, flexibility, and resistance to fatigue.
1. Smoke sheet rubber:
Production process: Fresh latex is coagulated using acetic acid, then rolled and pressed into patterned sheets. These sheets are then sent to a curing room where they are dried using the smoke and heat generated from burning wood. The phenolic compounds in the smoke serve as natural preservatives and antioxidants.
Performance characteristics: The color is brownish-yellow, with a distinctive smoky aroma. Thanks to the inclusion of an anti-aging agent in its manufacturing process, it exhibits excellent aging resistance and outstanding mechanical properties (such as tensile strength and tear resistance).
Production Areas and Applications: The traditional major production areas include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and others. Once the primary source of rubber products, today it is mainly used to manufacture high-performance tires (such as aircraft tires and truck tires), high-strength industrial products (such as conveyor belts and shock-absorbing components), and medical bottle stoppers.
2. Air-dried wrinkled film adhesive (ADS) – White wrinkled film/Brown wrinkled film:
Production process: Similar to flake rubber, but the drying process is not carried out in a tobacco barn; instead, it is naturally air-dried. Depending on the grade of raw materials used, it is classified as follows:
White corrugated sheets: Made from high-quality latex, with a lighter color.
Brown Crinkle Sheet: Made from secondary raw materials such as cup rubber gel and rubber threads, it has a darker color. Performance characteristics: It contains no smoky components, has a lighter and purer color, but its resistance to aging is inferior to that of smoked rubber sheets. White Crinkle Sheet has higher purity.
Origin and Applications: The origin overlaps with that of flake rubber. White crinkle flakes are used to manufacture light-colored or colored products with high color requirements, such as medical gloves, balloons, rubber threads, and shoe soles. Brown crinkle flakes, on the other hand, are used to produce lower-grade products with less stringent performance requirements.
3. Technical Grade Rubber (SIR):
Production Process: This is the most common modern form of natural rubber, also known as standard particulate rubber. Latex or mixed rubber is coagulated, crushed, washed, corrugated, and granulated, then dried either by hot-air drying or deep drying to produce rubber particles, which are subsequently baled. The grading criteria for this product are based on technical parameters such as impurity content, ash content, nitrogen content, volatile matter content, and plasticity retention index (PRI).
Performance features: Higher purity, more uniform quality, and high production efficiency and automation level.
Origin and Applications: Countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam all adopt similar standards. This is currently the mainstream raw material in the tire and most rubber products industries, with extremely wide-ranging applications.
4. Deproteinized Natural Rubber (DPNR):
Production process: Before the latex coagulates, most of the non-rubber components—such as proteins and fatty acids—are removed from the latex through enzymatic treatment or multiple centrifugation washes.
Performance characteristics: Excellent biocompatibility (reducing protein allergic reactions), low water absorption, enhanced electrical insulation, and low dynamic heat generation. It boasts high chemical purity and is suitable for applications with stringent requirements for hygiene and electrical performance.
Origin and Applications: Produced in countries including Japan and Malaysia. Primarily used in high-end medical products (such as allergy-resistant gloves and implantable medical devices), high-performance electronic insulating materials, and shock-absorbing products.
5. Tianjia Rubber (ENR):
Production process: The chemical method involves epoxidizing some of the double bonds in the natural rubber molecular chains to introduce epoxy groups.
Performance characteristics: This is a chemically modified rubber. The introduction of epoxy groups significantly alters its properties: its air-tightness approaches that of butyl rubber (making it ideally suited for use as the inner liner in tubeless tires), its oil resistance and anti-slip performance are markedly improved, though its elasticity is somewhat reduced.
Origin and Applications: Developed and manufactured in countries including Malaysia. Primarily used for high-performance tire inner liners, oil-resistant gaskets, fuel hoses, and similar applications.
6. Skim Rubber:
Production process: The byproduct—latex clarification—from centrifugal concentration of latex is processed into a solid form after coagulation and drying.
Performance characteristics: This material has a low hydrocarbon content in the rubber (approximately 20%–40%), resulting in low strength, poor elasticity, and limited resistance to aging. However, it is very inexpensive.
Origin and Applications: All concentrated latex plants generate this byproduct. It is typically used to manufacture low-value products such as low-grade sponge products, shoe insoles, and pressure-sensitive adhesives.