Imagine pulling at a piece of thread, stretching it as far as you can, and it goes back to its original shape before you pulled it. What is more commonly known as an elastic, is made of rubber threads that are interwoven to create the sturdy structures you may come to know in textiles. Rubber threads have influenced not just the textile industry, but also the automotive industry, medical uses, and even machinery in the modern era.
In this article, you will learn how rubber threads are produced and stabilized for long-term use, and application.
Making Rubber Threads
When it comes to rubber production, they can either be produced using natural or synthetic materials. At the heart of Omnimax threads lies natural rubber. Natural sap, a milky-colored substance called latex, is extracted from rubber trees using tapping. Tapping is done by making a diagonal cut surrounding the tree’s bark to allow the sap to flow out. Liquid sap oozes out gradually until sunrise and is collected in a bowl or small bucket attached to the tree. Once filled, the sap is poured into larger containers and transported to factories for processing.
After enough sap is collected, it is then mixed with additional chemicals to stabilize its properties. Then, the latex mix is fed into a machine that introduces a stream of coagulants to create a coagulum filament. Once solid threads are formed, they are transferred to another machine for additional coating with uncoagulated latex.
Fine-Tuning Elasticity and Performance
A crucial step in Omnimax’s rubber thread production is vulcanization or hardening the rubber. This process chemically links rubber molecules with organic or inorganic substances via heating and pressing them using industrial means. Vulcanization can be done in two ways: the hot vulcanization process and the cold vulcanization process.
The hot vulcanization process mixes the rubber with additives in a hot and pressurized machine. Layers of the belt in the machine are separated using the stair step method and coated in glue and rubber. Heat and pressure are then applied to ‘vulcanize’ the belt loop, known as a ‘cooker.’ Meanwhile, the layers of the belt are linked together during the cold vulcanization process. In this method, layers of rubber and adhesives are chemically bonded together at room temperature.
The vulcanization process greatly enhances the rubber’s strength, durability, and elasticity. The curing process that occurs during vulcanization allows it to withstand great pressure and stress, even bouncing back to its original shape after pulling.
Ready to Pack, Ready to Use
After the vulcanization process, rubber threads are then cooled down, stretched, and cut to meet production requirements and measures. To meet various demands and thread applications, Omnimax varies the thread count for their threads. This is done to achieve different levels of stretch and thickness with finer count threads offering a smoother feel and subtle stretch. On the other hand, coarser counts provide greater strength and resilience for industrial applications.
Omnimax prioritizes rigorous quality control measures at every stage of production to ensure consistent performance and lasting durability of their products. They are now able to produce rubber threads with fine counts from 90 to 110 that are comfortable and soft to the touch. Be sure to use good quality threads with superior elasticity and durability from Omnimax by PT Cilatexindo Graha Alam (www.omnimax.id).
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