The technology of production and processing of natural rubber invented before plastics were developed. Previously, natural rubber is obtained only in the countries of South America. Natural rubber production started in industrial scale by the mid 19 th century. Processing of natural rubber in the material used for technical purposes, was made possible in 1839 when an American scientist Goodyear laid the foundations for the process of vulcanization. Earlier, in 1827 British scientist Hitchcock found that natural rubber with proper machining loses a high viscosity and low processability. Softening process in the processing of rubber on rollers it is called mastication.
In the early 19 th century was opened Ebonite. The rapid development of technology led to extensive use of rubber in such fields as electrical engineering, as a great insulation. Developing automotive industry experienced a need for a rubber pneumatic tires. Constantly growing demand for automobile tires were subsequently transferred to the tires for airplanes. A special method of manufacture rubber compounds is to use a large percentage of natural rubber, kremnezita that delivers remarkable quality and level of consumer properties of the products. Formed in the late 20 century, the possibility of rubber production by synthesis, restricted the use of natural rubber. Synthetic rubber is a product of polymerization.
Used in the manufacture of tires as a substitute natural rubber or a mixture of them. In the following years the development of industrial and technological processes, thus making the synthesis of rubber on an industrial scale. Now expand resource base and further improvement of the most important feedstock for rubber production is one of the most important tasks. For many of the characteristics of synthetic rubber is not inferior to natural and even partially superior to him. It is produced in much larger quantities than natural.