The synthetic rubber has replaced natural rubber for domestic and industrial puiposes. Which one of the following is the main reason behind that ?

Synthetic rubber has largely replaced natural rubber in many industrial and domestic sectors primarily because natural rubber production cannot keep pace with the rapidly growing global demand [2]. While natural rubber possesses superior tensile strength and elasticity, its supply is constrained by geographical and climatic factors, as it is harvested from Hevea brasiliensis trees grown almost exclusively in tropical regions like Southeast Asia [1]. Synthetic rubber emerged as a critical alternative during World War II due to natural rubber shortages and has since dominated the market because it can be mass-produced from petroleum-based monomers like styrene and butadiene. Unlike natural rubber, which is prone to environmental aging, synthetic variants offer tailored properties such as resistance to heat, chemicals, and extreme conditions, ensuring a more stable and consistent supply chain for large-scale manufacturing.

Sources

1. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9710532/
2. [2] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 15: The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate > Life and Development in the Equatorial Regions > p. 153