The term latex can be distinguished between two types. On the one hand, the most relevant type for us is the rubber tree from which the chyle is won for the production of volcanic rubber. On the other hand is a software language, which, with the aid of macros, essentially simplifies the type setting system TeX and especially helps to find formulas in connection with text application, the so-called LaTeX.

Latex as a naturally occurring substance and LaTeX (Tex) for programming

We would like to bring you the former type of latex closer as it stands to reason for the producers. But what is latex; where is it from and how did latex find its way in this day and age with its immense meaning? We would like to bring this closer to you in an entertaining and qualitative manner. It will reveal that it is not only about an object of fetish but it is much more than that. There are several terms in connection with the natural material, as well as personalities that are common conceptions, such as the terms vulcanisation and Goodyear as well as the caouchouc belt. Maybe you have already heard of them but couldn’t quite associate it. We will try to explain it to you. There are many great inventions and adventures that are concerned with latex, which have helped todays distribution of this product. This material has certainly deserved a connection with the term passion.

natural Latex is the milk-like sap of the rubber tree

Natural latex is nothing more than natural rubber, a minor amount of sulfur and water. Natural latex vulcanises especially due to its part of sulfur. Apart from the terms and brands Radical Rubber, FourD Supatex, latex in lanes and latex which is available by the meter, many of you might have come across liquid latex. Be it for body painting or the dipping of shapes for condoms, latex gloves as well as the production of special structured latex goods in bulk or in heavy rubber material thicknesses. Radical Rubber, for example, is in its country of production readily produced and is transported in solid form on rolls of 10m length. Also, a large part of disposable gloves are delivered ready for use. However, liquid latex in barrels is traded worldwide. As liquid latex would vulcanise in a short amount of time, an amount of ammonia is merged with the latex, whereas we distinguish between low-ammonia and high-ammonia. The addition of ammonia retains the alkaline pH-value with the result that the vulcanisation only occurs in contact with air through which the evaporation of the ammonia begins. By the use of heat the process of vulcanisation is encouraged and is especially in the industrial production on lines employed. The pure and so-called pre-vulcanised latex is used as a bonding agent in the manufacturing of glued latex clothing, such as the latex catsuit, paper glue and as dyed liquid latex (body painting). Latex, Hevea brasiliensis, is won from the milk-like liquid of the rubber tree, also known as caoutchouc tree. Additionally, the native South Americans called this tree Ca-Hu-Chu, which can also be translated as crying tree. Thereby was the leaking milk-like sap meant. This species of plant was, amongst other things, also called pará rubber tree and originates in South America. The rubber tree belongs to the family of the milk bushes and still has an immense economical as well as historical meaning. Especially the economical meaning is worldwide gigantic as from the milk-like liquid natural latex, or simply latex, more specifically natural caoutchouc, is won and it serves as the only renewable natural source of raw material. Meanwhile, the largest part of latex is synthetic latex, or caoutchouch, and is won through petrochemical production.

Latex from the gum of the rubber tree succumbs the following system

• Category: Malpighian-like
• Family: milk bushes, euphorbia cease
• Subordinate family: crotonoideae
• Species: Hevea
• Type: caoutchouc tree, also known as rubber tree

The rubber tree plant, more specifically Hevea brasiliensis tree, grows between 15m and 40m high, whereby the tree trunk diameter is relatively small and mostly varies between 25cm and 50cm. The bark, also called periderm, has a grey shade. The milk vessels, or milk tubes, can be found in the liber of the tree, strictly speaking, in the soft parts of the trunk of the plant. The milk-like sap itself has a whitish colour and contains, depending on the quality, up to 25% to 40% pure caoutchouc. The remainder of the milk-like sap is over 90% water as well as other minor ingredients, such as protein (allergens), sugar, wax and resin. The wood of the trunk has a yellowish colour and an extremely unpleasant odour. The rubber tree is a foliage plant and its leaves are tripartite. The dark-green, approximately 15cm long leaves are reshaped every year and the blossoms of the rubber tree can be found underneath the leaves at the end of the twigs. The rubber tree is sexually separated and the optical difference can be identified by reference to the blossoms. The female flowers are considerably bigger than the male ones. The fruit of the rubber tree is similar to a chestnut; however, they are in no sense related. Before you can win the milk-like sap, or latex, the plant has to be at least five years old. The milk tubes circulate the centre of the trunk anti-clockwise and the extraction of the latex takes place by hand with special knives and specific guidance of the blade. High caution is required as the cambium, which lies under the milk tubes, is needed for the recovery of the bark of the caoutchouc tree and should not be damaged. Only about half of the perimeter is cut into a special angle to collect the latex with a small bucket. If you would continue the cut, there is a high danger of distracting the nutrients and water of the tree, which would lead to the tree dying. However, the rubber tree has an expiry date, which is the age in which the latex production is stopped. We call this process monoculture. After about 25 years, the trees are logged and the ground will be afforested again. It therefore is a renewable raw material, however, sustainability is not necessarily given as often the rubber trees are planted in cleared rainforest areas and the rubber tree production is one of the reasons for the clearing of the rain forest. As the worldwide demands of latex are steadily rising, the territorial gain of the planting has to be ensured. Rubber wood has a bright tint and is extremely hard. The Brinell hardness test, which determines the level of hardness, reveals ~6.2 for the rubber wood, compared to the maple tree with ~4.7 and the oak with ~4.3. A further and crucial advantage is the insensibility toward humidity and general wetness and its fluctuations. Therefore, the wood is used for the production of furniture and musical instruments.

Where do latex and the pará rubber tree come from

The native home of the rubber tree was and still is South America, specifically the large Amazonian area and Amazonian basin with its tropical rain forest. The natives in South America already knew some features of the latex prior to the discovery of their continent. Therefore, already Columbus could see children and adults play with elastic balls that were basically rubber balls made of latex. The nowadays-oldest items made of latex originate from the time around 1,600 A.D. where the people played the Mesoamerican ball game. However, almost all folks of the Middle American Mesoamerica and Amazonia used natural rubber. During travels in Mexico and on visits to the old cities of the Mayas, often knowledgeable tourist guides report that the inhabitants have covered their soles of the foot with natural latex. But also clothing, which promised a water repellent protective function during tropical rainfalls, was made of this material. Latex clothing originates clearly before A.D. as they coated wooden containers with viscous natural rubber. Furthermore, pipes have been produced before present.

There are many stories about how latex made its way to Europe and later to Asia. However, it’s a fact that in the 15th century, the first time on the European continent, the Portuguese sailors have reported about latex and discovered its potential. For them, latex was similar to a material from Polynesia, which was perfectly suitable to make clothing water-resistant and to seal ropes. Hernán Cortés presented the emperor Karl V an Aztec ball game team. In 1615, Juan de Torquemada reported how the Amerindian native Americans made objects water resistant. During the measuring of the equator around 1734 to 1745, Charles Marie de La Condamine observed how the native Americans produced and used natural rubber. Hence the natural caouchouc was brought to Europe and also here people quickly discovered its potential.

Further chronology of the natural rubber:

• 1761: discovery of dissolvent for solid rubber
• 1770: first rubber
• 1791: patent for the process with turpentine dissolved rubber to apply on fabric, Samuel Peal
• 1824: first rain coat, Macintosh
• 1824: Wellington boots, the first rain/rubber boots, named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st duke of Wellington

It took another 100 years until it really was possible to produce rubber; before the production it was a torture and the result could hardly be used. Natural caouchouc could only be glued in high heat as in the cold it immediately got brittle. The vulcanisation wasn’t common to the people in Middle and South America, however, by compounding it with plant juice, the plastic material could be turned into elastic rubber, even if it wasn't quite comparable to vulcanisation. The vulcanisation in the years 1839 caused a caouchouc boom, brought by Charles Goodyear. By the influence of the three factors time, temperature (heat) and pressure, the material could be made resistant. Latex was made resistant by atmospheric as well as chemical influences. For the vulcanisation raw rubber and sulfur is needed, more specifically sulfur offered substances and heat. The long chains of rubber molecules are connected with sulfuric bridges to turn the latex elastic, whereby all plastic characteristics get lost. The final latex is permanently elastic, has a higher tearing strength and is more stable to extraneous influences. When latex, or rubber, decomposes, the sulfuric bridges decompose. This is known as porous latex, or brittle material.

The caouchouc boom and the influence of latex

The settlement of the rubber tree has been tried everywhere and even as in the areas Africa's latex was won; Brazil was the world monopole for decades. Repeatedly stories from sailors are told where it was attempted to steal the seed of the rubber tree to settle it in other tropical places on our earth. This mostly happened without success and the sacrifice of lives, but they didn't want to let this monopoly position get taken away. However, the rubber boom didn't decrease and the European forces tried everything to obtain it. Sir Henry Wickham (born in 1846; died in 1928), an English natural scientist and economist, who worked 20 years as a bird hunter in Nicaragua and later as a forest officer in British Honduras, was also an adventurer. Wickham crossed parts of the Brazilian jungle and took notes of his discoveries. By reading and studying of his special drawings, which were of importance in the past times as well as today, the leader of the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew (Kew Gardens) in London, Great Britain, moved Joseph Hockers to instruct Wickham one of his most dangerous and meaningful orders. He should bring the desired seeds of the rubber tree for the production of latex to the kingdom. Wickham surely thought about many possibilities and one of these ideas brought the desired success and therefore fame into the homeland. In 1876, Sir Henry Wickham exported around 17,000 seeds of the Brazilian rubber tree, disguised as orchid seeds to London, Great Britain. The royal gardeners promptly planted the seeds into the especially designed greenhouses. Approximately 2,000 seeds of the rubber tree have then been shipped to Asia, more precisely Malaysia. It was a long and dangerous journey during which only 8 seedlings somewhat survived. The peninsular Malaysia disposes of excellent climatic conditions. Furthermore, the rubber tree in this region has no natural enemies and could thrive perfectly. These climatic conditions lead to the possibility to win more latex per tree than in South America. At this point, the areas of the Straits Settlement on the Malaysian peninsular were home to this plant. From 1890, large plantations were developed and towards the end of the 19th century, the start of the 20th century, the Malaysian exports of rubber trees represented about 90% of the worldwide latex needs. The caouchouc boom of the South American baron was therefore broken. Eight years before his death, Sir Henry Wickham was ennobled for the British merits. He traveled to numerous countries and founded plantations. Sir Wickham was considered a pirate in South America, especially in Brazil. The main part of the need on rubber (approximately 60%) is now covered by synthetic caouchouc. Also dandelion was tested during the Second World War for the production of latex. This has also been tried in the Ukraine. Nowadays, condoms, gloves, bulk goods and many other items are made of latex, including glued and dipped latex clothing. Dipped latex clothing are for example latex gloves, latex masks and latex stockings and glued latex clothing are meanwhile omnipresent, such as the latex catsuit, latex dresses and many other latex clothes, which is due to the medial presence. But also car tires contain a part of the natural caouchouc. The reason for this is the good adhesion and low inner friction towards synthetic rubber. The degree of the inner friction displays how much the material heats itself up during the strain. For tires, the concept applies that the heat is good for friction but overheating causes the tire to burst.

The caouchouc belt, no item of latex clothing

The couchouc belt is located on 30 degrees northern latitude and 30 degrees southern latitude on our earth, which is not to be compared with a latex corset. Here, more than 90% of the worldwide economically used rubber trees are planted. Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, the home of radical rubber, are the three largest production and export countries for the desired caouchouc. However, it's hardly in its pure form but is stored in vulcanised and liquid form in barrels and as the end product in form of latex lanes, latex gloves, condoms and many more, as latex is also used for industrial purposes. Brazil with its former monopoly position is hardly noteworthy even if it saddens. The Brazilian holdings are threatened and made extinct by the South American leaf disease. A fungus, called microcyclus ulei, causes this. This parasite-like fungus appeared on the plantation Fordlandia, which decayed due to bad managements. The owner was no less a figure than Henry Ford. Until today, this parasite hasn't been combated and infects the tree in his short leaf development phase. Due to the humid-warm climate on the equator, this phase isn't dependent on the seasons which makes it hard to control. Over 60% of the caouchouc from Brazil is won in the federal state Sao Paulo, as there the seasons are noticeable.

Synthetic Latex or caouchouc for fashion

A growing area of cultivation areas is inevitable. Even if nowadays synthetic rubber covers a large part of the worldwide need of caouchouc, the need of natural caouchouc, more specifically latex, will continuously grow. Approximately 30 tons of the demands will be expected in the year 2019. In the course of both world wars at the beginning of the 20th, Germany lost its caouchouc sources, however the demands were immense. During the Second World War, I.G. Farben produced synthetic latex in Schkopau, also called Buna, as it was Styrol-Butadien caouchouc. The ingredients included brown coal and hydrogen from the factories in Leuna.

But also for the confederates latex became scarce because the Japanese warlord conquered all of the Asian caouchouc plantations. Due to these experiences the United States of America stored the caouchouc in 1940. The so-called Rubber Reserve Company was founded which was of use after the attack on Asia by Japan. Additionally, it relied on Buna-caouchouc, however some problems arose. From 1941, the USA wanted to build several governmental financed factories for the production of Buna caouchouc. The patent for this synthetic caouchouc was with the company Standard Oil of New Jersey. It's management strictly refused to release the patent as they had signed an agreement with I.G. Farben.

The former US president Harry S. Truman spoke from betrayal on the USA. The company Standard Oil accused of conspiracy on New Jersey and a commission for the examination of the presented issue was convened. It took more than 2 years before the US congress decided the release and could be handled accordingly. From this point the public promotion was encouraged and in 1943 the USA alone produced over 5,000 tons of the so-called 'Government Rubber'. This clearly exceeded the production in the prior Germany and was raised over 730,000 tons in the last year of the war. During the production of synthetic latex, or rubber, partly toxic ingredients were added. Special care needs to be provided with latex from China as the production hardly ever gets controlled and the material input decides. Therefore, even in natural latex toxic colourants have been discovered in the past. Toxic substances in synthetic latex are for example colourants, ozone preservatives, solvents and vulcanisation accelerants, just to name a few. Caution during skin contact is also necessary, especially for sensitive reactions. In contrary to natural latex, which consists of natural raw sources, synthetic caouchouc is characterised by chemical and petro-chemical ingredients.

Latex from dandelion and other plants

Apart from the rubber tree, from which you can win the desired latex, there are alternative plants and respective trials to win latex. During the times of the Second World War, German troops obtained research material from Russia, which was about how to win latex from dandelion. The juice of the dandelion contains about 8% latex. The German occupants wanted to carry out plans during which they intended to plant dandelions on approximately 120,000 hectare land area in East Europe to win latex. Apart from the dandelion, which today is topic again, the dwarf shrub came into focus of the interest. Today, both plants are examined again. Especially the Russian dandelion is perfectly suitable for the natural caouchouc production. This special type is intensively examined. Currently, one of the most famous producers of tires is testing the production of latex through dandelion with the Fraunhofer institution for molecular biology and ecology. Therefore, a specially designed pilot facility in the area Muenster has been commissioned. Here, through cultivation and optimised growing, natural caouchouc from the roots of the dandelion should be produced. Hereby, not the quality is most important, but the expense factor and the protection of the environment. Because it is clear that the dandelion can be cultivated in our realms, long routes of transportation with high costs and the damage of the environment can partly be avoided. Maybe we will soon drive on tires made of the latex of the dandelion.

The Latex allergy caused by natural caouchouc

The latex allergy is not solely caused by direct contact with the skin. It was rather the mineral talcum that, in the times before chlorination, was used as medicinal assistance. Talcum, as well as other fine minerals, damages the lungs during respiration. The human body can't remove this mineral from the lungs. The contact with latex through the lungs can also cause an allergy as our human immune system, due to the detection of the latex protein in the air, mistakenly assumes that these proteins, which are actually harmless but are connected with the talcum, are being attacked. Alternative possibilities are cornstarch and chlorinating, which refines the surface so that the latex proteins won't be released and the human immune system doesn't react.