rubber: A few facts and figures

Since Charles Goodyear's patented discovery in 1834 that by subjecting a combination of sulphur, carbon and rubber gum to heat and pressure a strong durable engineering material can be produced, the global application of vulcanised rubber had grown to a yearly production level in excess of 22 Million tonnes by 2007.

Nearly 43% of this, some 8.3 million tonnes, was natural rubber whilst approximately 11.8 million tonnes consisted of oil-derived synthetic rubbers.  (figures supplied by the International Rubber Study Group).

It takes between 3 and 4 tonnes of oil to manufacture 1 tonne of the synthetic rubber used in tyre treads. 

A typical synthetic rubber product requires between 120 and 200 GJ/tonne to manufacture.

A typical natural rubber product requires between 12 and 20 GJ/tonne to manufacture.

In one year more than 1 billion tyres are manufactured world-wide requiring more than 10 million tonnes of rubber material, including most of the natural rubber produced.

It takes approximately 7 gallons (26.5 litres) of crude oil to manufacture 1 tyre (Grist magazine).

It takes 1 barrel of crude oil to manufacture 6 tyres. Global tyre manufacture consumed approximately 167 million barrels of crude oil in 2005.

In addition to the polymer, rubber products contain a number of additives that are mixed (compounded) to form a compound. This is then moulded and formed into the required shape. During this moulding and forming process, crosslinking takes place. 

A wide variety of rubber products are manufactured, making rubber an important material for a number of applications in, for example, the automotive, aerospace and chemical industries.