Natural latex is made from sap of rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, which is milky white liquid called latex that is harvested by tapping bark and collecting sap. This natural latex is composed of rubber particles suspended in water, plus proteins, resins, and sugars. To make products like mattresses, gloves, or balloons, natural latex sap is processed using two main methods, Dunlop method which whips latex into foam, pours into mold, and vulcanizes with heat, resulting in denser bottom and softer top, and Talalay method which adds vacuum and freezing steps for more consistent airy foam. Natural latex products are made by adding small amounts of curing agents like sulfur for vulcanization to stabilize rubber, plus natural soaps for foaming. So natural latex is made of 100 percent natural rubber tree sap with minimal additives, as opposed to synthetic latex which is made from petroleum based styrene butadiene rubber, or blended latex which mixes natural and synthetic. Natural latex is renewable, biodegradable, and elastic, used for mattresses, pillows, gloves, and balloons because of its elasticity and durability.
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