Tracing the Origins of Rubber: How It Shaped Modern Industrial Manufacturing

As early as the 11th century, Native Americans discovered that the white sap seeping from rubber tree trunks could be used to make rubber balls for games. These small balls could bounce very high when dropped and felt sticky when squeezed in hand, emitting a smoky scent.

It wasn’t until the 18th century that American chemist Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered that heating natural rubber mixed with sulfur triggered a "vulcanization" reaction. This process transformed the linear structure of rubber polymer chains into a three-dimensional network, turning it into an elastic rubber material. This breakthrough finally resolved the longstanding issue of natural rubber's limited application, and after vulcanization, rubber gained excellent elasticity and strength, becoming a formal industrial material. This event marked the beginning of the rapid development of many industries related to rubber.

In summary, rubber plays an important role in modern industry. Understanding its types and properties helps in selecting the right material to meet different needs.