Latex
Origin and intended use of natural latex
Natural latex, extracted from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree, appears as a milky and viscous substance with a high rubber content in aqueous suspension.
It is an ecological and recyclable material, with natural characteristics such as elasticity, durability and hygiene which make it suitable for various applications.
It is a raw material for adhesive, coating, foam, rubber, intermediate applications, bonding agent.
Due to its extraordinary properties, natural latex is used in a wide range of industrial sectors such as the production of gloves and other diving products, elastic thread, clothing, footwear production, adhesive materials, automotive and for the production of mattresses and pillows (linen).
Why is it eco-friendly?
First of all, latex is an ecological material because it is truly natural. Coming from trees, it is consequently also renewable and recyclable.
But how is it collected? The collection is also often natural and respectful: the trees chosen for the latex collection are at least five years old and are “squeezed” by making spiral incisions along the bark.
The dripping liquid is collected in a bowl or container and each plant can produce up to three kilograms of latex in a year, being exploited for up to 20 years.
We import natural latex only from companies that respect the environment, plants and soil and that do not work in conditions that exploit their employees.
PRODOTTI ALFA S.r.L imports large quantities of high quality centrifuged natural latex and rubber.
We have been selling and distributing natural rubber, and natural latex since 2015, combining a global perspective, reliable information and a full range of customer services.
The NATURAL LATEX & RUBBER division of PRODOTTI ALFA S.r.L already boasts strong experience in the industrial management of natural latex and supply channels with the best companies worldwide.
This will allow us, through our logistics network, to guarantee products of high quality and safe origin in rapid and precise times.
Natural latex centrifuged at 60% Low or High Ammonia is used as a glue for grafts, shoe factories, paper processing, industrial filtration, etc…
The experience gained over many years of working with our customers has led us to develop a complete suite of support and network services. For each step we have a tested solution, carefully managed by specialized staff.
Just in Time Service
The latex is supplied in the following packaging:
– 1000 kg IBC tank;
– 205 kg metal drum;
– 20 kg PE drums;
– 10 kg PE drums;
– 5 kg BAGinBOX®;
– 10 kg BAGinBOX®
Natural latex has several advantages over synthetic latex:
It is more pure and high-performance, resistant and durable.
It is ecological because it is natural, deriving from trees, and it is renewable and recyclable.
It is cooler and more breathable than memory foam.
It can be found with different degrees of hardness and with layers of different heights.
It has hypoallergenic and resilient properties, greater elasticity and softness.
Natural rubber
Products Alfa in 2015 introduced a division within its structure dedicated to the marketing of natural rubber and latex. The latter is a material for which it boasts long experience, as it constitutes 30% of the compounds that allow the production of regenerated leather.
Natural rubber manufacturing process
Regarding the rubber manufacturing process, it is useful to know that the latex is collected from the tree thanks to an incision on the bark of the plant.
The liquid comes out of the tree and begins to drip, thus being collected in special containers. Once the collection has been carried out, the buckets with the latex are taken to the collection tanks.
Thanks to the reaction due to exposure to acidic reagents, the white liquid coagulates, like milk with rennet.
Raw rubber is sometimes used for stickers and as part of shoe soles.
Additionally, 10% of the latex harvested from trees is simply reduced to 60% rubber solution to make products such as latex gloves or to use as a coating.
Rubber is a natural element which, if processed correctly and using processes capable of maintaining its superior intrinsic characteristics unaltered, ensures superior performance and yield compared to other materials.
The raw rubber obtained from the latex of the Hevea Brasiliensis plant and purchased by Prodotti Alfa srl directly from the plantations of South-East Asia, which produce the best quality rubber, is not chemically treated and therefore keeps its characteristics unchanged.
Just in Time Service
Natural rubber can be supplied in the following qualities:
– TPC 1X / 1
– SVR CV60 / CV50
– SVR 3L
– RSS1
It comes in 1260kg pallets and the original bale can be cut into blocks for more convenient use.
Compared to synthetic rubber, natural rubber is:
Eco-friendly material
100% recyclable
Resistant to abrasion
Very elastic and flexible
Waterproof
Unalterable in contact with acid, alkaline and saline solutions