What is the difference between natural rubber and synthetic rubber?

The difference between natural rubber and synthetic rubber is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

‌Source and composition‌: Natural rubber comes from plants such as rubber trees, and its main component is cis-1,4-polyisoprene; synthetic rubber is a highly elastic polymer synthesized by humans with diverse components. ‌

‌Performance characteristics‌: Natural rubber has high elasticity, good weather resistance, and corrosion resistance; synthetic rubber has high elasticity, insulation, oil resistance, and high-temperature resistance, but some properties may not be as comprehensive as natural rubber. ‌

‌Application areas‌: Natural rubber is widely used in products such as tires, soles, conveyor belts, etc.; synthetic rubber is widely used in industry, agriculture, national defense, transportation, and daily life, and its application areas can be continuously expanded. ‌

‌Development prospects‌: Since natural rubber is limited by the supply of plant resources, its future development potential is limited; while synthetic rubber has greater development potential. ‌

In summary, there are significant differences between natural rubber and synthetic rubber in terms of source, composition, performance, application, and development prospects. ‌