Introduction To Rubber: June 2011
Introduction To Rubber: June 2011
Introduction To Rubber: June 2011
June 2011
Outline
1. Uses of rubber 2. Definitions 3. Components of rubber compound 4. History 5. Classification and types of material 6. Summary 7. Questions?
Definitions
Rubber is a polymer, which is a word that is derived from the Greek meaning many parts.
Definitions - Monomer
Monomers are very small molecules such as water. Water = H2O H-O-H
Definitions Polymer
Polymers are huge molecules. They are still too small to be seen by a microscope, but are many, many times larger than water molecules. H HH H Example: -(C-C=C-C-C)20,000 HH H H
Definitions - Elastomer
An elastomer is a cross-linked or vulcanized polymer. Cross-linking is a chemical way of linking the long polymer chains. A way to think of this would be to take the bowl of spaghetti and tie them together with a piece of thread where ever the pieces of spaghetti touch each other.
History
Rubber trees have been cultivated in Southeast Asia, primarily in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Rubber trees grow to a height of about 60 feet tall, in hot damp climates.
History
Natural rubber is found in the latex that comes from the rubber trees. It is collected in a cup mounted on each tree, by slashing the bark to reach the latex vessels, which are like blood veins of the tree. The liquid is 30-40% rubber. The latex is dried and we have rubber.
History
During WWII, we were cut off from rubber in Southeast Asia, because Singapore came under Japanese control. Because an immense amount of rubber was needed for the war, the US Government sponsored a huge program to accelerate research, development, and mass production of synthetic rubber.
History
The first synthetic rubber to come from this research was SBR, which comes from Styrene and Butadiene. Within 2 years, a multi-million dollar industry had been developed a project that ordinarily would have taken 20 years. Most of the synthetic elastomers that are used today, such as neoprene, nitrile, and butyl, were mass produced and became commercially successful between 1942 and 1945.
History
After WWII, many more synthetic elastomers were developed to meet the demands of modern technology. Today, much more synthetic rubber is used than natural rubber.
Summary
The bottom line is that we use a certain material based on the 3 Ps: Processability, Properties, and Price Questions? Please call us at 800-7267925