About Rubber

HISTORY

Central and South American natives used caoutchouc, basic component of what we know today as rubber, to make balls for play in 4th century BC. In 18th and in the beginning of 19th century interest for caoutchouc in Europe started to grow, with production of the first rubber products, e.g. rubber gloves. The first rubber products lacked on thermal resistance. When exposed to high temperatures, they became sticky.

In the year 1839 Charles Goodyear unintentionally discovered that soft and sticky caoutchouc could be changed in very elastic material - rubber - with heating and adding of sulfur. That enabled continuous and rapid development of the rubber industry.

Rubber products belong to the group of products without we can hardly imagine modern world.

Present consumption of the caoutchouc in the world rates at 15 million tons. About 38 % of natural caoutchouc and 62 % of synthetic caoutchouc is refined all over the world. 50 % of raw material base is used in the tires industry, another half for other rubber products for mass consumption, health services, industry etc.

PROPERTIES

The most important property of rubber, which essentially differentiates it from other materials, is its elasticity. For example, rubber band can be stretched out up to 10 times of its original length, and it will keep the original length after stretching.

Besides elasticity, rubber has also another good properties, such as: small amortization, impermeability for water and air, good performance in different solutions, acid resistance, stability within 200 oC and capability to keep elasticity even under -100 oC. Rubber can be also excellently combined with another materials, e.g. metals. In that case, we merge the elasticity of rubber with firmness of metal.

Properties of rubber products depend on recipes, procedures of mixing components and production processes of particular products.

TYPES AND PROPERTIES OF RUBBER MIXTURES

Many different types of rubber mixtures are used in rubber industry, according to the needs and demands of the product itself.

Natural Caoutchouc - NR (SMR)

Type 30 - 90 Shore A
NR Caoutchouc is water-, alcohol-, glycol-, silicon oil- and lubricant-resistant. It is used for production of conveying belts, straps, membranes, gloves etc.

Styrene - Butadiene Caoutchouc - SBR (Buna Huls EM)

Type 35 - 95 Shore A
SBR Caoutchouc has similar mechanical properties as NR, but more resists amortization, higher temperatures and aging. It loses elasticity on lower temperatures. Two thirds of SBR sources are used for production of tires, rest for cable sheathings, fittings, floor coverings etc.

Polynorbornensian Caoutchouc - PNR (Norsorex)

Type 10 - 45 Shore A
Products made of PNR Caoutchouc are extraordinary soft and firm on the same time.
They are used for making profiles, fittings and absorbers of sounds and vibrations.

Chlorineprenic Caoutchouc - CR (Bayprene, Neoprene)

Type 25 - 90 Shore A
CR Caoutchouc is fire-resistant and also resists weather influences and aging. It is used for production of conveying belts, fittings, elastic pipes, cable sheathings etc.

Butyl Caoutchouc - IIR (Polysar - Butyl)

Type 30 - 80 Shore A
IIR Caoutchouc is impermeable for gases, acid- and ozone-resistant. It has good electric properties and shows less amortization. It is used for making tubes, fittings, membranes, cables etc.

Ethylene / Propylene / Diene Caoutchouc - EPDM (BUNA AP Keltan)

Type 30 - 90 Shore A
EPDM Caoutchouc resists heat and aggressive substances, is very constant, slowly aging and high elastic. It is used in car industry for production of soft tubes and cables.

Acrylnitril / Butadiene Caoutchouc - NBR (Perbunan Krynac)

Type 30 - 95 Shore A
NBR Caoutchouc resists gasoline, mineral oils and lubricants, but doesn't resist aging. It is used for production of fittings, membranes, soft pipes, conveying belts, cable sheathings and in shoe industry for shoe soles, gloves etc.

Chloriensulfonic Polyethylene Caoutchouc - CSM (Hypalon)

Type 45 - 90 Shore A
Mixtures based on CSM Caoutchouc are used for coatings (transparent varnish). Otherwise it is used for production of fittings, membranes etc.

Polyacrylic Caoutchouc - ACM (Hycar Vamac)

Type 50 - 90 Shore A
ACM products are acid-, ozone-, and heat-resistant. They lose elasticity on lower temperatures. Mixtures are used for making O-shaped rings etc.

Silicone Caoutchouc - VMQ (Silastic)

Type 30 - 85 Shore A
VMQ products have excellent properties. They are heat-, oxygen-, ozone-, UV-resistant and keep their elasticity under low temperatures. Even under temperature changes they keep their mechanical and electrical characteristics.
It is used for production of fittings, soft pipes for hot air transportation, pharmaceutical and medical products etc.

Polyurethane Caoutchouc - AU / EU (Adiprene)

Type 55 - 90 Shore A
AU / EU characterizes small usage of material and mineral oil- and ozone-resistance.
They are used for fittings, valves in furniture industry and isolation of inner parts of vehicles in car industry.

Epychlorine - Hydrine Caoutchouc - CO, ECO (Herclor Hydrin)

Type 40 - 90 Shore A
CO or ECO products are mineral oil-, ozone- and aging-resistant. They are impermeable for gases.
They are used for fittings, membranes, soft pipes, valve-coatings etc.

Klander, d.o.o.
Karlovška 19
1000 Ljubljana

Tel.: +386-1-421-40-00
Fax: +386-1-421-40-05

E-mail: info@klander.si