Why Rubber Is Still Vital In Today’s World

Rubber has been around for a few centuries, but it’s still an essential material in today’s world.

From its use in producing parts for vehicles to its use in consumer products, rubber is essential and will probably continue to be into the foreseeable future. Take a look at the history of rubber use and how it’s still a vital material in a multitude of industries.

History of Rubber Use

Rubber was used as early as the 16th century in the Americas, but as far as manufacturing goes, its earliest use was in the 19th century by British industrialist Nadier. In 1820, he produced rubber threads and tried to use them in clothing accessories. In 1832, the Rosburg factory was created, but it didn’t do so well because of the cold weather’s effect on the goods produced. The non-vulcanized natural rubber became brittle, and consumers weren’t interested in the product.

Finally, in 1840, The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company discovered vulcanization by accident when a mixture of rubber, lead and sulfur was accidentally dropped onto a hot stove, which resulted in a product that wasn’t affected by the weather. Instead, it came back to its original form when stretched. When the automobile was invented in the late 19th century, rubber became much more essential. The demand for rubber skyrocketed, and it became useful for so many things and even more consumer products began using rubber as time passed.

Why Rubber Is Still Important in Manufacturing

Rubber has become so vital in manufacturing and multiple other industries. It’s used in hundreds, if not thousands, of consumer products, as well as in parts for all kinds of machines, automobiles and more. Take a look at how rubber has helped shape the world as we know it.

It’s Used for Sealing and Manufacturing Parts

In the manufacturing industry, rubber is used to produce and seal things like:

• Hoses
• Belts
• Matting
• Flooring
• Adhesives
• Gaskets
• Anti-vibration mounts in vehicles
• Car bumpers
• Airplane cabins

Rubber manufacturers use o-rings to manufacture some of the above parts and keep their machines running at optimal speeds and to keep them from breaking down. 

It’s Used To Make Consumer Products

Rubber is used to manufacture tons of consumer products, such as:

• Rubber gloves
• Shoe soles
• Rubber bans
• Cooking utensils
• Rain books
• Watches
• Teething toys
• Flip flops
• Bike tires
• Jars
• Phone cases
• Cameras
• Medicine balls
• Trampolines
• Pacifiers

Rubber is such a versatile material — it likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

It’s Used in the Textile Industry

You might not know it, but rubber is also used in the textile industry for:

• Ski pants
• Lingerie
• Swimsuits
• Wetsuits
• Cycling shorts

It’s Used in the Medical Industry

The medical industry relies heavily upon rubber for things like:

• Rubber caps
• Catheters
• Medical masks
• Birth control products
• Rubber bulb syringes
• Gloves
• Rubber tubes for infusion and transfusion
• Leg and neck straps

Finding the Right Rubber Supplier

Rubber is still vital in today’s world, and it’s probably only going to get more essential thanks to its versatility and reliability. Finding a reliable supplier that offers an assortment of products is the first step to ensuring you’ve got the highest-quality rubber so your business can continue operating the way it should.