If rubber comes from nature, why isn’t it biodegradable?
In: Biology
The science behind the reduced biodegradability of natural rubber once it’s processed involves vulcanization. This process adds sulfur or other chemicals to raw rubber, creating cross-links between the rubber molecules. These cross-links significantly enhance rubber’s durability, elasticity, and resistance to temperature and physical stress. However, they also make the rubber much less susceptible to the microbial action that would normally break down organic materials, thus significantly reducing its biodegradability.
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