Source of rubber sheet material

The origin of rubber and the composition of rubber sheets. According to literature records, these balls have excellent elasticity and have even led visiting Spaniards to believe that they are possessed by evil spirits. Rubber is also used as a strap to fasten wooden handles to stones or metal objects, as well as as as a filling material for handles. Mayans can use rubber to make shoes. Although indigenous peoples in Central America did not formally vulcanize rubber like modern humans, they were still able to use organic compounds to achieve similar effects, such as mixing unprocessed emulsions into sap from different species of trees or some vine plants. Some indigenous people in Brazil use rubber to make waterproof fabrics. It was once rumored that Portuguese people brought these clothes back to their homeland, scaring their fellow villagers. As a result, they were accused of practicing witchcraft and sentenced. After rubber was introduced to England, it was found that this material could effectively erase the marks left by pencils. So nowadays, rubber in English is also used to describe erasers. Interestingly, today's Americans are used to calling it eraser, but rubber is used to describe condoms. The natural rubber source is the three leaf rubber tree, which provides the most commercial rubber. It secretes a lot of sap rich in rubber emulsion when injured. Additionally, fig trees and some Euphorbiaceae plants can also provide rubber.

Germany tested obtaining rubber from these plants during World War II due to the blockage of rubber supply, but later switched to producing artificial rubber. At the beginning, rubber trees were good at growing in South America, but through artificial transplantation, there are now many rubber trees planted in Southeast Asia as well.

In fact, Asia has become the most important source of rubber. Rubber made from silver chrysanthemum gum can reduce sensitivity. Although more than half of rubber materials are currently artificial, natural rubber still holds significant importance in certain industries such as automotive and military.

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