|
|
|
• Silk is obtained from the
cocoons of silk worms. Sericulture(the cultivation of silkworm) was developed
in China 2600 B.C. Silkworms feed on mulberry tree leaves. Exporting of silk
worms eggs or mulberry tree seeds was made a crime punishable by death in
China at that time. For about 3000 years silk making was only done in China.
|
|
• Asphalt is both naturally occuring as in the La Brea tar pits and is
also a by product of refinining crude oil. The lighter hydrocarbon molecules
are removed to obtain gas and oil. The heavier hydrocarbon molecule residue
leaves asphalt. This is why asphalt plants are often next to refineries.
Asphalt is also the name for the mixture of asphalt and gravel that is used
as a building material for roads.
|
|
• Amber, rosin and gum arabic are obtained from tree sap. Gum arabic is
the sap from acacia trees. It is used in making mucilage glue and is also
used as a thickener in food products such as candies. Rosin is also from tree
sap and used to increase friction. For example it used on the bow of violins
and by baseball pitchers. Amber is is fossilized resin.
|
|
• Natural rubber is also obtained from tree sap from certain tropical
plants. The rubber is now used today to refer to both natural and synthetic
rubber.
|
|
• The word rubber was used because it was found that rubbing it on
pencil marks was able to remove.
|