RUBBER
Rubber
Rubber is one of the most important and demanded materials in the world. According to Reportlinker, in 2016 the world consumed 12.6 million tons of rubber, but only 12.4 million tons were produced, meaning there is a 200,000-tonne gap between production and needed supply. It is estimated that by 2021, the gap between supply and demand will be around 700,000 tons, so it will continue to suffer from supply shortages.
Car The need for tires is one of the biggest reasons demand is so high, but rubber has many other important uses as well. Rubber has been used in its natural state for thousands of years. Most modern types of rubber, oil It is a synthetic made from different polymers produced from its by-products. In this article, there is information about different types of rubber, both natural and synthetic, and their usage areas.
What is Rubber?
Rubber is a natural polymer of Isoprene (2-Methyl -1, 3 – Butadiene). It is a linear, 1.4-doped Isoprene polymer. e rubber of natural rubber It has properties and undergoes long-range reversible expansion even when a relatively small force is applied. For this reason, it is also known as Elastomer.
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Rubber Types and Usage Areas
When people talk about rubber, they usually don't specify what type it is. There are many different types of rubber, but they all fall into two broad types: natural rubber (latex - grown from plants) and synthetic rubber (made artificially in a chemical plant or laboratory). The most commercially important synthetic rubbers are styrene butadiene (SBR), polyacrylics and polyvinyl acetate (PVA); other types include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polychloroprene (better known as neoprene), and various types of polyurethane. Although natural rubber and synthetic rubbers are similar in some ways, they are quite different chemically and by completely different processes. Here are some rubber types and their uses:
Natural Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber and gum rubber, comes from the latex found in the Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. A tap is attached to the tree and the liquid is drained into latex collection containers. Natural rubber is known for its durability and resistance to extreme temperatures. Natural rubber is elastic, flexible and resistant to degradation, abrasion and surface friction. is resistance . It is used in many consumer and industrial products, including tires, gloves, some types of foam rubber, flooring and roofing, balls and insulation. Adhesives are used, for example natural rubber such as rubber cement.
Neoprene Rubber
Neoprene rubber, also known as chloroprene, is an ancient synthetic rubber. It is less susceptible to degradation, corrosion, and combustion than most other synthetic and natural rubbers, so it is often used as a base material in corrosion-resistant coatings, high-pressure gaskets, belts, and adhesives. It is also used to provide weather protection at emergency exits and fire doors and masks. Its waterproof and insulating properties mean it is often used for water suits, gear and equipment. Neoprene is sometimes used as a latex substitute in household items such as dishwashing gloves for allergy sufferers.
Silicone Rubber
Also known as silicone rubber or rubber polysiloxane, it is highly resistant to ultraviolet rays, ozone and fire as well as extreme temperatures. It is produced in many different colors and is very soft, available as both solid and liquid products. It is essentially an inert material that does not react to most chemicals. Because of this inertness, it is one of the few synthetic rubbers that is both hypoallergenic and biocompatible. For this reason, silicone is often used to make medical equipment such as respirators, surgical gloves, and medical implants. It is also used for food storage containers, baby care supplies, cosmetic applicators and cooking utensils. Silicone is a more expensive synthetic rubber, and as a result, other synthetics have been superseded in most heavy industrial applications where a large amount is prohibitively expensive to use.
Nitrile Rubber
Nitrile rubber, also called Buna-N or NBR, is resistant to heat, gas permeability and oil. Because of its oil resistance, it is often used in the automotive industry for gaskets, o-rings, oil seals and engine hoses. Nitrile is also used in the aerospace industries for self-sealing fuel tanks and balloons. Its durability and resistance make it widely used in making heavy-duty protective nitrile gloves, and it is also less likely to cause allergies for medical gloves than latex and is more robust than silicone (see protective glove types for complete degradation). It is also used to make various molded items, floor mats, shoes and sponges.
EPDM Rubber
EPDM rubber, an abbreviation for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer rubber, is a synthetic rubber compound. It has strong resistance to hot and cold temperatures, so it is often used as a waterproofing material in roofing and other outdoor applications such as garage door seals and hoses. EPDM is also used as a sealant in the automotive industry as it is an insulator and noise reducer. Not resistant to petroleum based oils, mineral oils and some other lubricants.
SBR Rubber
SBR, short for styrene-butadiene rubber, is known to be tough and durable. It is also much cheaper than other synthetics. It is widely used in tires because of its durability, resistance to friction and tearing. These qualities also make SBR useful for shoe soles and replacement heels, rubber cutting boards and special rubber gaskets. It is used for gaskets in hydraulic brake systems as it is resistant to hydraulic brake fluids. A liquid form of SBR was once used to make chewing gum.
Butyl Rubber
Butyl rubber, also known as isobutylene isoprene, is one of the most gas-tight, airtight synthetic rubbers. For this reason, it is used in sports to make inner tubes and air-filled balls, and as a sealant for windows and tires. Liquid butyl is used in diesel and petroleum fuel additives and acts as a cleaner for fuel injectors. It is often used in products designed to clean up oil spills. Food grade butyl rubber has basically replaced SBR for most chewing gums.
Fluorosilicone Rubber
Fluorine silicone rubber is also known as FVMQ and is resistant to extreme temperatures ranging from -100 to F 350 Therefore it is also resistant to transmission oils, engine oils, fire, synthetic oils and ozone. Due to its ability to be used in extreme temperatures, it is often used in the aerospace industries. It is a more expensive synthetic rubber, so it is mainly used for these specific industries.
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References:
http://www.industrialrubbergoods.com/types-of-rubber.html http://www.allsealsinc.com/type-of-rubbers.html
Author: Özlem Güvenç Ağaoğlu