Natural rubber was a critical pillar of Malaysia’s export oriented economy throughout much of the 20th century. Early in that century rubber overtook tin as Malaya’s main export earner and was the dominant component in accounting for variations in export growth.
The term latex is often used as a synonym for rubber, but the term actually refers to any liquid medium that holds a suspension of tiny polymer particles. Latex is a natural plant substance, but it can also be manufactured by chemical processes.
Latex is harvested from the trees by slitting the bark and allowing the milky latex to seep out for collection, a process similar to that used to tap maple trees for sap. After tapping, chemicals are added to keep the latex from stiffening up. It may go through processes like coagulation, centrifugation, compounding, vulcanization, stripping, leaching, chlorination, and lubrication in creating the final natural rubber product