Mastication is a preliminary stage to processing the raw rubber.

This process involves the use of

special mechanical equipment and additives at low temperatures to shred the rubber molecules into
smaller units. This improves the plasticity and reduces the viscosity. In its raw form, natural rubber is a
very high molecular weight (MW) rubber that naturally polymerised thus molecular weight of natural
rubber cannot be controlled as it is always the case for synthetic rubbers. High MW means high viscosity
thus renders it hard. It is almost impossible to mix any powder or liquid ingredients into rubber at its
original viscosity. Thus natural rubber requires controlled reduction in molecular weight, this molecular
weight reduction process is the mastication process. Hence, mastication shortens rubber molecular chains,
resulting in a reduced molecular weight and this reduces its viscosity. These allow compounding
ingredients to be homogeneously distributed into the rubber. Masticated rubber is softer and flows more
easily than in its original state. However, if over masticated the rubber becomes tacky.