Erasers for pencils are typically made through a process involving synthetic rubber, a type of polymer.
The Core Process
The primary material used today for manufacturing pencil erasers is synthetic rubber. This material is a polymer, which means it is composed of long chains of repeating small molecules called monomers.
The process of creating this polymer involves joining these small monomer molecules together. A crucial chemical added during this process is an accelerator. The accelerator helps facilitate the chemical reaction that links the monomers, forming the larger polymer structure that gives the eraser its characteristic properties, such as its ability to rub away graphite marks.
Material and Composition
- Main Ingredient: Synthetic rubber (a polymer)
- Catalyst: An accelerator chemical helps link monomers into a polymer.
Why Some Erasers Are Pink
Interestingly, the tradition of pink erasers stems from the early manufacturing process. The original accelerator chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber for erasers had a pink color. These pink erasers were commercially successful, and the color became popular, maintaining the tradition even as materials and processes have evolved over time.
This combination of synthetic materials and chemical processes results in the common pencil eraser used for correcting mistakes.
