What is Synthetic Rubber?

           

Rubber is a material used in hundreds of modern products.  Around the world, approximately 15 billion kilograms of manufactured rubber is distributed every year and about 70 per cent is rubber. Rubber is basically an elastomer polymer derived from either natural or synthesized origins.  Elastomer is a material that can undergo elastic deformation under stress but can return to its original form.

Natural rubber and synthetic rubber

The difference between natural rubber and synthetic rubber is the raw material used to produce them.  Natural rubber originates from the latex of Havea Brasiliensis and is usually inferior to certain synthetic rubber and is not compatible with petroleum products.  Synthetic rubber on the other hand is produced through polymerization or polycondensation of unsaturated monomers.  Monomers are petroleum-based raw materials.

The development of synthetic rubbers was needed to meet certain material requirements which natural rubber cannot meet such as greater stability, malleability and lower cost. Synthetic rubbers come in compressed bales, square blocks, powder rubber, talcum coated chips, granules and in liquid form.

Types of Synthetic Rubber

            A variety of different synthetic rubbers have been developed, which caters to different applications and the chemical and mechanical properties they require. Co-polymerization of varied types of monomers allows the material properties to be wide-ranging.  There are about 30 kinds of synthetic rubbers being produced by rubber manufacturers in Australia for a wide variety of purposes and below are some of the most important ones:

·         Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber – Resistant to oil and fuel, abrasionresistant and has good heat distortion temperature properties

·         Butyl Rubber (IIR) – has good electric insulation and mechanical properties, low permeability to gases and is resistant to aging, ozone and chemicals, and abrasion

·         Chloroprene Rubber (CR) – Grease and oil proof, resistant to weathering, aging and abrasion.  It is also a flame retardant

·         Isoprene Rubber (IR)- has similar properties as natural rubber, is very uniform, transparent and cleaner

·         Polybutadiene Rubber (BR) – usually processed with SBR or NR, is abrasion resistant, has good elasticity and flexible at low temperature.

·         Styrene Butane Rubber (SBR) – used for general purpose, has good abrasion resistance, lower elasticity, poor low temperature behavior, has better heat and aging resistance with excellent electrical insulation

Complete List of Synthetic Rubber

·         Polyacrylate Rubber    (ACM)

·         Ethylene-acrylate Rubber       (AEM)

·         Polyester Urethane                  (AU)

·         Bromo Isoutylene Isoprene     (BIIR)

·         Polybutadiene                         (BR)

·         Chloro Isobutylene Isoprene   (CIIR)

·         Polychloroprene                      (CR)

·         Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene (CSM)

·         Epichlorohydrin                                  (ECO)

·         Ethylene Propylene                 (EP)

·         Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (ERDM)

·         Polyether Urethane                 (EU)

·         Perfluorocarbon Rubber                      (FFKM)

·         Flouronated Hydrocarbon      (FKM)

·         Flouro Silicone                                    (FQ)

·         Fluorocarbon Rubber              (FPM)

·         Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene        (HNBR)

·         Polyisoprene                            (IR)

·         Isobutylene Isoprene Butyl     (IIR)

·         Acrylonitrile Butadiene                      (NBR)

·         Polyurethane                           (PU)

·         Styrene Butadiene                  (SBR)

·         Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene Copolymer (SEBS)

·         Polysiloxane                            (SI)

·         Vinyl Methyl Silicone             (VMQ)

·         Acrylonitrile Butadiene Carboxy Monomer (XNBR)

·         Styrene Butadiene Carboxy Monomer (XSBR)

·         Thermoplastic Polyether-ester (YBPO)

·         Styrene Butadiene Block Copolymer (YSBR)

·         Styrene Butadiene Carboxy Block Copolymer (YXSBR)

Visit the Oz Suppliers if you are looking for a reliable supplier, distributor or manufacturer of all kinds of synthetic rubber products from Australia.