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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Crop Improvement and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216319
Title: Guayule Latex: Physical and Chemical Properties

Author
item McMahan, Colleen
item WILLIAMS, JALI - YULEX CORPORATION
item CORNISH, KATRINA - YULEX CORPORATION

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2007
Publication Date: 11/12/2007
Citation: Mcmahan, C.M., Williams, J., Cornish, K. 2007. Guayule Latex: Physical and Chemical Properties. 37:16-18. . Trade Journal Publication.

Interpretive Summary: Natural rubber is the largest single volume elastomer in commerce, at ~9 million tons sold globally per year. It is a strategic raw material used in thousands of applications: critically in medical devices, personal protective equipment, and specialty industrial applications such as aircraft tires. Over 2000 plant species produce natural rubber; alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis have the potential to provide economic, social, and strategic benefits to the USA. Guayule latex has recently entered the commercial arena as an alternative natural rubber latex suitable for the manufacture of medical products safe for people with Type I IgE-mediated Hevea latex allergies. Produced from Parthenium argentatum, guayule, a desert shrub indigenous to North America, re-introduction of guayule provides opportunities for rural development as a significant industrial crop. The physical and chemical properties of guayule latex and rubber produced in the United States meet the specifications of ASTM D 1076 – 06 Category 4 latex.

Technical Abstract: Natural rubber is the largest single volume elastomer in commerce, at ~9 million tons sold globally per year. It is a strategic raw material used in thousands of applications: critically in medical devices, personal protective equipment, and specialty industrial applications such as aircraft tires. Over 2000 plant species produce natural rubber; alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis have the potential to provide economic, social, and strategic benefits to the USA. Guayule latex has recently entered the commercial arena as an alternative natural rubber latex suitable for the manufacture of medical products safe for people with Type I IgE-mediated Hevea latex allergies. Produced from Parthenium argentatum, guayule, a desert shrub indigenous to North America, re-introduction of guayule provides opportunities for rural development as a significant industrial crop. The physical and chemical properties of guayule latex and rubber produced in the United States meet the specifications of ASTM D 1076 – 06 Category 4 latex.