Rubber

Natural rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon Polymer that naturally occurs as a milky colloidal suspension, or latex, in the sap of some plants. It is used extensively in many applications and products. It can also be synthesized. The entropy model of rubber was developed in 1934 by Werner Kuhn. The scientific name for the rubber tree commercially used to obtain Natural Rubber is Hevea brasiliensis.

The use of Natural Rubber is widespread, ranging from household to industrial products, entering the production stream at the intermediate stage or as final products. Tyres and tubes are the largest consumers of rubber, accounting for around 56% total consumption in 2005. The remaining 44% are taken up by the general rubber goods sector.

Other significant uses of rubber are door and window profiles, hoses, belts, matting, flooring and dampeners (anti-vibration mounts) for the automotive industry in what is known as the "under the bonnet" products. Gloves (medical, household and industrial) are also large consumers of rubber and toy balloons, although the type of rubber used is that of the concentrated latex. Significant tonnage of rubber is used as adhesives in many manufacturing industries and products, although the two most noticeable are the paper and the carpet industry. Rubber is also commonly used to make rubber bands and pencil erasers.


Altec have over 30 years experience in manufacturing Plastic & Rubber Extrusions, Extruded Profiles and Tubing. We're quite rightfully proud of our reputation for consistently meeting the needs of customers over that time. Because we've remained small and focussed we've also remained more attentitive, more cost effective and more responsive than larger manufacturers.

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Glossary of Extrusion Materials & Terms

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A.B.S.
Acrylic
Chemical Hose
Coextrusion
Compression Set
Cord
Cutting
D.E.H.P.-free PVC
D.O.P.-free PVC
Die
Dioctyl phthalate-free PVC
E.P.D.M.
Elastomer
Extruder
Extrusion
F.E.P.
F.K.M.
F.V.M.Q.
Flouroelastomer
Flourosilicone
Fluorocarbon
Fluoroelastomer
Fluoropolymer
Fluorosilicone
Gaskets
H.D.P.E.
Hose
L.D.P.E.
L.L.D.P.E.
M.D.P.E.
Masterbatch
Medical Tubing
N.B.R.
Natural Rubber
Neoprene
Nitrile P.V.C.
Nitrile Rubber
Nylon 12
Nylon 6
Nylon 66
P.A.
P.B.T.
P.C.
P.E.T.
P.E.X.
P.F.A.
P.M.M.A.
P.P.
P.T.F.E.
P.U.
P.U.R.
P.V.C.
P.V.C.U.
Peristaltic Pump Tubing
Peroxide Cured Silicone
Phthalate-free PVC
Pin
Plastic
Plasticiser
Platinum Cured Silicone
Polyamide
Polycarbonate
Polychloroprene
Polyester
Polyethylene
Polymer
Polyolefin
Polypropylene
Polythene
Polyurethane
PolyVinylChloride
Profile
Quality Assurance
Rigid P.V.C.
Rubber
S.P.C.
Santoprene
Seals
Silicon Rubber
Silicone Rubber
Strip
Synthetic Rubber
T.P.E.
Teflon
Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic Elastomer
Thermoplastic Rubber
Thermoset
Tubing
U.H.M.W.P.E.
U.P.V.C.
V.L.D.P.E.
Vacuum sizing
Vinyl
Viton
X.L.P.E.