Move Over, Mr. Spock. You Are Not the Only Vulcan on the Block.

In a previous post I mentioned that natural rubber needs to undergo a curing process called vulcanization to make it a usable material.

In its natural state, rubber is sticky and gets very gooey when exposed to heat and brittle when cold. If it gets wet, natural rubber basically dissolves into a big glop of slop.

Here is what rubber looks like coming straight from the source. It is actually called latex when being tapped from the rubber tree.

Good thing rubber is vulcanized or you would have some pretty useless rain boots.

Vulcanization, which involves using high heat and the addition of sulfur or other similar chemicals, makes the rubber more elastic and durable. And waterproof.

Vulcanization was named after Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire. Who apparently was not afraid to work with fire wearing only a red cape. Daring, daring man.

Had to hide his Roman jewels....this is a (somewhat) family-oriented blog after all.

What could he be pointing at anyway?? He sort of looks like a naked John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever".

I think John's dance partner's dress is made from Vulcan's red cape.

But I digress....

Vulcanization was not named after Mr. Spock, the Vulcan on Star Trek. Who had to be 99.9% clothed at all times. Those modest, non-Disco-ing Vulcans.....

Although Spock is a Vulcan, he's not the dude vulcanization was named for. Sorry, Spock.

Rubber is used in so many different everyday applications. Rubber bands, pencil erasers, hoses, tires....and rain boots to name just a few.

So let us give praise to our naked, disco-ing Roman God of Fire, Vulcan, for the process named in his honor which allows us to erase a mistake, put our hair up in ponytails, drive safely and.....

Puddle Stomp in Style!