Polyisoprene

Polyisoprene is strictly speaking a collective name for polymers that are produced by polymerization of isoprene. In practice polyisoprene is commonly used to refer to synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene, made by the industrial polymerisation of isoprene. Natural forms of polyisoprene are also used in substantial quantities, the most important being "natural rubber" (mostly cis-1,4-polyisoprene), which is derived from the sap of trees. Both synthetic polyisoprene and natural rubber are highly elastic and consequently used to make tires and a variety of other applications.

The trans isomer, which is much harder than the cis isomer, has also seen significant use in the past. It too has been synthesised and extracted from plant sap, the latter resin being known as gutta-percha. These were widely used as an electrical insulator and as components of golf balls. Annual worldwide production of synthetic polyisoprene was 13 million tons in 2007^[1] and 16 million tons in 2020.^[2]