Rubber

Rubber is a material that can stretch and bounce back to its original shape. It can be obtained from natural sources, such as the latex of the Rubber Tree, or made artificially from petroleum and natural gas. Rubber is used for many purposes, such as making tires, gloves, hoses, and balloons. It is a type of polymer, which is a large molecule made of smaller units called monomers. During World War II, rubber was one of the most important strategic materials due to its many industrial uses. Most of this resource is produced across the Indo-Pacific region, especially in Malaya.