Natural rubber particles are mainly sourced from the latex of the Hevea brasiliensis tree, native to Brazil but now predominantly cultivated in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. When the tree’s bark is incised, latex, a milky – white fluid, oozes out. This latex contains about one – third water and one – third rubber particles in a colloidal suspension. These particles are formed within specialized latex – producing cells called laticifers. The rubber in latex is a polymer of isoprene, with the chemical formula (C₅H₈)ₙ. After collection, the latex undergoes processing to isolate and refine the rubber particles.

Synthetic rubber particles, on the other hand, are man – made in chemical plants. Petrochemicals serve as the starting materials. For example, neoprene (polychloroprene) is made by reacting acetylene and hydrochloric acid. Emulsion styrene – butadiene rubber (E – SBR), widely used in vehicle tires, is another synthetic variety. The process involves polymerization reactions under specific conditions to create polymers with rubber – like properties, which are then processed into particles.

In addition to virgin rubber sources, recycled rubber is also a significant origin for rubber particles. Waste materials such as used tires, rubber soles, and other rubber products are collected. They are shredded, ground, and processed to obtain rubber particles.