Natural rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian
rubber, caucho or caoutchouc, as initially produced, consists of
polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities
of other organic compounds, plus water. Thailand and Indonesia
are two of the leading rubber producers. Types of polyisoprene
that are used as natural rubbers are classified as elastomers.
Currently, rubber is harvested mainly in the form of the latex
from the rubber tree or others. The latex is a sticky, milky
colloid drawn off by making incisions in the bark and collecting
the fluid in vessels in a process called "tapping". The latex
then is refined into rubber that is ready for commercial
processing. In major areas, latex is allowed to coagulate in the
collection cup. The coagulated lumps are collected and processed
into dry forms for sale.