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Synthetic Rubber

Though Natural rubber has been available since time immemorial, synthetic rubber has come of use for less than a hundred years. Synthetic rubber plants were built around the world after 1945, primarily in North America, Japan and Europe. In 1960, use of synthetic rubber was more than that of natural rubber for the first time. Synthetic rubber has maintained this lead since then. As per a report published in 2001, the world makes around 11.5 million tonnes of synthetic rubber each year. USA is the largest producer by far, followed by China, the EU and Japan.

What is synthetic rubber?
Rubber is a collective term for macromolecular substances ofnatural origin known as natural rubber (NR) or synthetic origin ormanmade known as synthetic rubber (SR). Synthetic rubber is awhite, crumbly, plastic mass which is processed and vulcanized inthe same manner as natural rubber. In other words, synthetic rubberis an artificially produced material having properties similar tonatural rubber. Most synthetic rubbers are obtained bypolymerization or polycondensation of unsaturated monomers. Thereare wide varieties of different synthetic rubbers, reflecting thevarious different applications and the chemical and mechanicalproperties they have. Co-polymerization of different monomers leadsto the material properties to be varied across a wide range.

Factors leading to synthetic rubber production
Though, World war II became the force for the emergence ofsynthetic rubber on a large-scale basis when governments beganbuilding plants to balance natural rubber shortages, there wereother various reasons as well after the war which led to thedevelopment of an alternative or substitute for natural rubber.Some important factors resulting to the production of syntheticrubber are
  • Rising prices for naturalrubber on the world market in response to the general state of theeconomy
  • Political events which cutcustomers off from the suppliers of raw materials
  • Long transportdistances
  • Regional constraints withrespect to establishing rubber plantations
  • The increase in global demandfor rubber.
Production Process of SyntheticRubber
Synthetic rubber can be produced in different ways. One commonprocess is shown below:
Synthetic Rubber

Source:
www.tis-gdv.de

Application
Like natural rubber, synthetic rubber has a varied range ofapplications, such as follows:
  • Tire industry (car, aircraftand bicycle tires)
  • Drive belts
  • Hoses
  • Medical equipment
  • Seals
  • Floor coverings
  • Conveyor belts
  • Molded partsetc.
Properties ofSynthetic rubber
There are different varieties of synthetic rubber, each havingtheir unique properties. Some of the common properties of syntheticrubber are as follows:
  • Better abrasionresistance
  • Good Elasticity
  • Better heat and agingresistance
  • Electrical insulationmaterial
  • Flexible at lowtemperatures
  • Flame retardant
  • Resistant to grease& oiletc.
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Next: Choloroprene Rubbers - CR
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