Do rubber trees make rubber?

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asked Jan 19, 2020 in Gardening by kosmicblow (300 points)
Do rubber trees make rubber?

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answered Jan 19, 2020 by Shelde (51,990 points)
The rubber that tires and other things are made from is not made directly from the tree but instead the rubber tree produces latex which is then turned into the rubber through a process.

So yes the rubber trees do somewhat produce rubber because they produce the latex which is a milky white substance but then a manufacturing plant turns the latex into the harder rubber that is needed for the tires and other rubber things.

Some tire manufacturers use the rubber from a rubber tree while others use petroleum based products to make the rubber tires on vehicles.

It depends on the tire manufacturer.

On average a rubber tree can live as long as 100 years and sometimes longer.

A rubber tree can reach heights of 100 to 130 feet and can grow between 1 to 3 feet per year depending on the climate.

Rubber trees produce milky white sap that is also known as latex.

The latex or milky white sap will flow freely from the rubber tree when part of the rubber tree bark is removed.

Rubber trees have been used for years to make tires and other latex and rubber material and it's a naturally renewable resource.

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