SOUL/ALLOY Science
History of Rubber
1736–1986: inventions and commercialization from natural rubber to extreme-environment elastomers
Showing 13/13 rubbers
General-purpose rubber
6Materials supporting tires, hoses, seals, and a wide range of everyday uses
High-performance rubber
7Materials engineered for heat, oil, chemicals, and other demanding environments
Historical highlights
1844Vulcanization makes rubber practical
Goodyear's vulcanization process transformed temperature-sensitive natural rubber into an industrial material for tires and more.
1930The first commercial synthetic rubber
Carothers and his DuPont team developed chloroprene rubber, opening an industry no longer limited by natural supply.
1971Extreme heat and chemical resistance
Perfluoroelastomers reached the market, enabling rubber seals in extreme environments such as semiconductor manufacturing.