2. Natural rubber processing

A small proportion of NR (around 10%) is delivered in liquid form, after concentration (35-60%). This operation is carried out on the production site in gravity-fed units, to avoid having to handle the latex in pumps, which could break the emulsions. The only purpose of this concentration is to avoid transporting water. On use, this concentrated latex can be diluted again.

The vast majority (90%) is delivered in solid form, available as :

• Ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) or hot-air dried and compacted into 113 kg bales. The rubber sheet is made by the farmers themselves, who pour the latex onto slabs and allow the water to evaporate. These sheets are then taken to a factory where they are smoked and classified according to their purity (pollution by leaves, wood, various objects, etc.). The classification ranges from RSS1,...