1. Natural rubber (from latex produced by the rubber tree, Hevea brasilienesis)
2. Pigments (iron oxide for red)
3. Sulfur (allows rubber to be vulcanized)
4. Vegetable oil (makes rubber softer and easier to shape)
5. Pumice (a volcanic rock which makes rubber more abrasive)
Process
Mixture of natural rubber, pigments, sulfur, vegetable oil, and pumice is heated and allowed to cool into a solid.
Product
Eraser
Used for
Removing pencil marks (from paper)
Production facility
Melbourne, VIC
Export
St. John's, Antigua
Production facility
Melbourne, VIC
Export
St. John's, Antigua
Brilliant! I've been wondering how erasers are made. Seems like it goes beyond natural rubber. Also, pumice being used as an abrasive is indeed a surprise.
ReplyDeleteJust take note. Pumice is not a mineral. It is a volcanic rock with many interconnecting holes. Pumice in fact looks just like sponge and it can float on water. It is grey in colour. If it is used as an abrasive in erasers, than it should be pulverised first into powder, which is then mixed with all the other ingredients.
Most interesting what goes into the erasers!
BTW, I doubt Australia has rubber trees or does it? In Queensland? I doubt it. Rubber trees grow in equatorial or tropical countries. I doubt Queensland is "tropical" enough. So, Australia does not produce erasers I suppose. So, you must have imported your natural rubber raw material from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
Comment about "pumice" noted and edited. Thank you for the input!
ReplyDelete