Prehistoric Polymers: Rubber Processing in Ancient Mesoamerica

Abstract

Ancient Mesoamerican peoples harvested latex from Castilla elastica, processed it using liquid extracted from Ipomoea alba (a species of morning glory vine), and fashioned rubber balls, hollow rubber figurines, and other rubber artifacts from the resulting material. Chemical and mechanical analyses of the latex and of the processed rubber indicate that the enhanced elastic behavior of the rubber relative to the unprocessed latex is due to purification of the polymer component and to an increase in the strength and number of interchain interactions that are induced by organic compounds present in I. alba. These ancient peoples' control over the properties of latex and processed rubber gave rise to the Mesoamerican ball game, a central ritual element in all ancient Mesoamerican societies.

Recent Progress in Sustainable Polymers Obtained from Cyclic Terpenes: Synthesis, Properties, and Application Potential

“…[44] The two pinene monomers 1 and 2 can be isomerized into each other,a lthough the b isomer (2)i sm ore reactive because it has an exocyclic double bond.F or instance, the cationic polymerization of 1 was described as early as 1937 with AlCl 3 as ac atalyst, but molecular weights and structures of the polymers were not given in this initial study. [45] Much related work followed, for example, ac omparison between both pinenes confirmed the easier polymerizability of 2 (1:3 5%, M w = 600-700 gmol À1 ; 2:9 6%, M w = 800-3100 gmol À1 ).…”

Polymer precursors from catalytic reactions of natural oils

“…174 These polymers were based on sustainable feedstock, but they were soon superseded in importance by petroleum derived polymers. A return to new polymer feedstock, once again based on natural raw materials, may occur in the very long term.…”

Latex allergy in health care workers: prevalence and knowledge at a tertiary teaching hospital in a developing country

“…Evidence of the use of latex items dates back to 1600 BC. 1 However, their use in the manufacture of gloves has only been since the early 1900s and the earliest record of an allergic reaction to these products was in 1927. 2 There has been an increased incidence of latex allergies since the 1980s, which coincided with the beginning of the human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic and the subsequent increasing use of gloves during patient contact.…”