gomma

Gomma is the Italian word for rubber, a polymer material that can be natural or synthetic. In everyday Italian, gomma is used to refer to both the material used to manufacture tires, seals, hoses, footwear and many other products, and to the eraser used to remove pencil marks. The eraser sense is typically expressed as la gomma or una gomma da cancellare.

Natural gomma, or gomma naturale, is derived from latex harvested from rubber trees, especially Hevea brasiliensis. It is processed through vulcanization to improve elasticity and strength. Synthetic rubbers are varied and include polymers such as polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile rubber (NBR) and neoprene, each chosen for specific properties like temperature stability or chemical resistance. Vulcanization remains a common method to impart durability to both natural and synthetic rubbers.

The modern rubber industry is geographically diverse but is strongly concentrated in Southeast Asia for natural rubber, with major producers typically including Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Synthetic rubbers are produced globally, supporting applications across automotive, industrial, medical and consumer sectors.

Common uses of gomma include tires and treads, belts, hoses, seals and footwear, as well as vibration dampers and gaskets. In its eraser form, gomma is a familiar writing accessory found in classrooms and offices, with phrases such as la gomma da cancellare used in everyday Italian.

Etymology traces gomma to the broader family of words for gum or rubber in European languages, with related terms such as caucciù (alternative Italian for natural rubber) and gomma sintetica for synthetic rubber.