polymeric rubber surfaces are a great choice for multi-use games areas and athletics tracks. These surface systems provide ideal ball bounce capabilities and offer ideal slip resistance qualities for a wide range of sports including basketball, netball, tennis and football. These surfaces are also SUDS compliant which means that they allow water to easily drain through the system.

The elastomeric properties of rubber derive from the fact that it can return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed. The polymer chains in natural rubber are coiled and wrinkled in the resting state, but when they are loosened they straighten and stretch seven or eight times their length. This stretching gives rubber its elasticity. In addition, the material is a good insulator and its relative gas impermeability makes it useful for hoses and other devices that carry gases as well as liquid chemicals. Its relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, and flexibility have made it an attractive substitute for metal in some applications.

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To overcome these disadvantages, the coiled chains of natural rubber are cross-linked with sulfur (a process known as vulcanization). In a typical vulcanization plant, polyisoprene molecules (long chains of isoprene) are heated and linked to each other through molecular bonds containing sulfur, forming a 3-D matrix. The linking is induced by a combination of heat, pressure, and the presence of oxygen and ozone.

The result is a tough, durable material that resists abrasion, can be molded to conform to irregular shapes, and is resistant to most common chemicals. The resulting materials are used for tires, industrial hoses and linings, automobile gaskets and vibration dampers, electrical insulation, and many other uses.