SAUDI TURF TEAM What is synthetic rubber ? How it is produced ?

SAUDI TURF TEAM What is synthetic rubber ? How it is produced ?

The first synthesis of rubber was carried out in 1909 in Germany by F. Hoffmann. The scientific research significantly developed during the First World War because of the Germany blocus. The first elastomer was put on the US market in 1931 by Dupont de Nemours under the brand, Neoprene. The development of synthetic rubber increased during the Second World War.


Synthetic rubber has its origin in two gases: butadiene, a by-product of petroleum refining, and styrene, captured either in the coking process or as a petroleum refining by-product. When the two are mixed in the presence of soapsuds in a reactor, liquid latex results. The dry rubber in this milky liquid is then coagulated into crumbs, washed, dried, and baled ready for shipment.

The total production of synthetic rubber into the EU amounted to more than 2.8 million tonnes in the year 2003 i.e. about 25 % of the world production.