The origin of the rubber eraser can be traced back to 1770 when a British scientist named Eustace Edison discovered a type of rubber eraser that could be used to erase the traces of a pencil while drawing. This made him interested in the production process of the rubber eraser. Later, Edison found that a plant-based material that had been vulcanized could have better plasticity and durability, and an eraser made from this material could also easily remove ink pen traces. He applied for a patent and began selling it, thus starting the history of modern rubber erasers.
II. The Evolution of the Rubber Eraser
Since Edison's invention, the materials and shapes of rubber erasers have gone through many changes. Early rubber erasers were mainly made of a mixture of rubber and sulfur, with a relatively simple shape. With the development of technology, people began to try using different materials to improve the performance of rubber erasers, such as adding polymers to improve elasticity, which improved its erasing effect and durability. In shape, traditional square or rectangular erasers have gradually been replaced by more convenient long-shaped or rolled erasers. In addition, with the popularity of colored pencils and marker pens, multi-colored erasers have also emerged to meet the needs of removing different colors of ink. Furthermore, there are also special material applications such as magnetic erasers. III. Modern Application of Rubber Erasers Today, the rubber eraser has become an indispensable part of our study life. Whether students or working professionals, we all need it to help us correct writing errors and improve the cleanliness of our homework or reports. With the increasing popularity of electronic devices and computers, even electronic erasers have been invented. Although traditional physical erasers are still our first choice, this new type of eraser is gradually emerging in the market.