What is Latex
Latex or natural rubber is the resinous sap of a white-yellowish color which is obtained from the secretion of the bark of a tree, the Hevea Brasiliensis, characteristic of the arid areas of Central and South America . The liquid obtained in this way, by cuts made in the bark, is channeled into special recipients for its collection.
Although the native populations of Mexico and Brazil, where initially the so-called 'rubber tree' was widespread, soon understood the excellent elasticity and strength of this material, it was only in 1839 that Charles Goodyear invented the process of vulcanisation, by means of which it is possible to render the characteristics of latex stable.
From this process arose the modern industry of latex foam and then the large-scale production of new products able to improve the quality of life: this took place in particular in the mattress and pillow sector.
Working Process
Latex consists of a suspension of rubber polymer in a watery serum. The structure of this material is made up of a micro dispersion of little drops of rubber, resins and other components of the rubber plant, dissolved in water. The same structure can today be produced with a synthesis procedure. In order to make mattresses and pillows, already purified latex is used and it is integrated by other natural substances to the point where a compact mass is obtained, enriched by millions of suspended air bubbles. The foam thus formed is then sent on for final treatment. The treated latex reaches the final phase of the working process in which the foamy material becomes stabilized through a process that consists of bringing the mould, gradually and on the basis of a well-defined time-scale, from low to high temperatures. This process, called vulcanization , ensures that millions of intercommunicating micro-cells form in the latex foam to guarantee the correct balance of elasticity, temperature and circulation of air in the finished product. Thanks to its specific molecular structure, the foam thus obtained can be lengthened considerably (up to 170%) without reaching breaking point or becoming deformed or altered.
The Benefits of Latex
ELASTICITY: property of going trough deformations without breaking up to 10 times the original length
RESILIENCE: capacity of recuperating quickly and spontaneously the original size as soon as weight is eliminated
DIFFERENTIATED CARRYING CAPACITY: property of reducing thickness in proportion to the exerted weight maintaining an appropriate push to sustain the different parts of the body
MICROMASSAGE: property of giving a passive massage during the rest because of surface design of latex products
FORCED AIR: property of making air to circulate between body and product because of surface design of latex products
TRANSPIRABILITY: property of making air to circulate trough cells forming the latex structure
HYGIENE: bactericide fungicide and germicide properties granted by use of substances like sulphur during the vulcanisation process, so that they remain constantly active in the latex product. Furthermore humidity and high temperature endurance allow a deep cleaning by hot steam
ANALLERGICITY: property of forbidding any bacterium and mites proliferation in an hostile environment due to substances used in the latex mixture
ANTIMAGNETISM: latex products don't contain metallic parts: so they are indicated in ecological furniture design
ECOLOGICAL: latex products can be totally recycled and are not detrimental to environment