Abstract The melting behavior and x-ray diffraction patterns of four different samples of stark rubber have been investigated. The melting temperatures, 39° to 45.5° C, are substantially higher than that observed for natural rubber crystallized by cooling. The x-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the crystallites in stark rubber are oriented. This observation can explain the higher melting temperatures. Thus, the previous assignment of an equilibrium melting temperature, 28° (±1°) C, to unoriented crystalline natural rubber is shown to be appropriate. Several different methods that have been used successfully in preparing stark rubber under controlled conditions in the laboratory are outlined.