Avsnitt 22

The story of rubber is more than tires, toys, gloves, and gum–it’s imbedded in modern life, from the controversial Challenger O-rings to seals on hydrogen fuel cells. A gigantic worldwide synthetic rubber industry creates exotic elastomers for high-tech applications, while China’s rapid industrialization plays havoc with the world’s natural rubber supply . From the ancient Olmecs of Yucat n, who knew the secret of vulcanization, to modern processing plants, we trace rubber’s history and future.