Rethinking and Utilizing Natural Rubber
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| Picture: istockphoto_structuresxx |
Derived from the latex of the rubber tree, natural rubber is known for its unique combination of elasticity, flexibility, and durability. It exhibits outstanding mechanical and dynamic properties, such as high tear resistance, excellent tensile strength, and exceptional elongation (up to 800%). Whether in the automotive industry for tire production, in medical technology for manufacturing latex gloves, or in the textile industry for elastic fibers—this raw material is ubiquitous, as long as it is processed in larger volumes. However, when it comes to dosing smaller volumes, process reliability quickly reaches its limits. A key factor in processing natural rubber is its rapid reaction time, which, in turn, dictates the manufacturing process. It is no coincidence that gloves or condoms are typically produced using a dipping process. When dosing natural rubber, these short reaction times present challenges, starting with its transportation to the dosing unit and becoming critical when the system experiences even a short idle time. Natural rubber cures, meaning its viscosity changes, making precise dosing impossible. As a result, natural rubber has not been a viable option for many products, even when its material properties would have been ideal.
A New Approach with Contactless Dosing
"With our contactless dosing system," explains Julian Greiner, Marketing & Sales at perfecdos GmbH, "production can resume immediately after 100 empty shots, even after a 14-day production break. No system cleaning is required with an appropriately designed media supply." Initial projects—such as applying dots to condoms using the Jet Valve PDosX1 from perfecdos—have demonstrated that even extremely small volumes can be precisely and safely applied in a fully automated process. The dosing process is so fast that the material has no opportunity to react and cures only where it is intended. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for using natural rubber across various industries, allowing manufacturers to incorporate an eco-friendly material—an increasingly important factor in environmental and health protection.
The potential applications for natural rubber can now be reimagined, such as in medical components, where miniaturization and large-scale production are becoming increasingly important. In the electronics industry, natural rubber can be precisely dispensed onto increasingly smaller and more flexible electronic components, leveraging its excellent insulation properties. In the food industry, new packaging solutions based on precisely dosed natural rubber could be developed. The precise contactless dosing of natural rubber with the Jet Valve PDosX1 presents a concept that unlocks new possibilities for this material. Compared to traditional methods—many of which fail due to the issues mentioned—contactless dosing reduces material consumption, minimizes waste, and simplifies process control. This allows manufacturers to save significant costs while maintaining high quality. From a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) perspective, the system’s 300 cycles per second enable faster production, while the simplified machine design results in cost savings. In summary, numerous advantages make this approach a compelling choice.
Beyond cost efficiency, the contactless dosing of natural rubber represents a milestone in the industrial application of this versatile material. By overcoming previous "dosing limitations," new horizons for natural rubber utilization are emerging—particularly relevant as companies in Germany must comply with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).
