Factors Leading to Synthetic Rubber Production

Though, World war II became the force for the emergence of synthetic rubber on a large-scale basis when governments began building plants to balance natural rubber shortages, there were other various reasons as well after the war which led to the development of an alternative or substitute for natural rubber. Some important factors resulting to the production of synthetic rubber are

· Rising prices for natural rubber on the world market in response to the general state of the economy

· Political events which cut customers off from the suppliers of raw materials

· Long transport distances

· Regional constraints with respect to establishing rubber plantations

· The increase in global demand for rubber.

Production Process of Synthetic Rubber

Synthetic rubber can be produced in different ways. One common process adopted by synthetic rubber manufacturers is shown below:

Applications of Synthetic Rubber

Synthetic Rubber Usage

Like natural rubber, synthetic rubber has a varied range of applications, such as follows:

· Tire industry (car, aircraft and bicycle tires)

· Drive belts

· Hoses

· Medical equipment

· Seals

· Floor coverings

· Conveyor belts

· Molded parts etc.

Properties of Synthetic Rubber

There are different varieties of synthetic rubber, each having their unique properties. Some of the common properties of synthetic rubber are as follows:

· Better abrasion resistance

· Good Elasticity

· Better heat and aging resistance

· Electrical insulation material

· Flexible at low temperatures

· Flame retardant

· Resistant to grease& oil etc.

Rubber is a collective term for macromolecular substances of natural origin known as natural rubber (NR) or synthetic origin or manmade known as synthetic rubber (SR). Synthetic rubber is one of the types of rubber. It is a white, crumbly, plastic mass which is processed and vulcanized in the same manner as natural rubber. In other words, synthetic rubber is an artificially produced material having properties similar to natural rubber. Most synthetic rubbers are obtained by polymerization or polycondensation of unsaturated monomers. There are wide varieties of different synthetic rubbers, reflecting the various different applications and the chemical and mechanical properties they have. Co-polymerization of different monomers leads to the material properties of synthetic rubber to be varied across a wide range.

References

1. Threadingham, Desmond; Obrecht, Werner; Wieder, Wolfgang; Wachholz, Gerhard; Engehausen, Rüdiger (2011).Rubber, 3. Synthetic Rubbers, Introduction and Overview. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry (Weinheim).doi:10.1002/14356007.a23_239.pub5.

2. Market Study Synthetic Rubber, Ceresana, June 2013

3. The Moving Powers of Rubber, Leverkusen, Germany: LANXESS AG: 20

4. Michalovic, Mark (2000). "Destination Germany: A Poor Substitute". The Story of Rubber.

5. Edwards, Douglas C. (2001). "Chap. 5 - Liquid Rubber". In Bhowmick, Anil K.; Stephens, Howard. Handbook of Elastomers, Second Edition (First ed.). Marcel Dekker Inc. p. 135. ISBN 0-8247-0383-9. Retrieved 8 February 2015.

6. Current Biography 1940, "SEMON, WALDO LONSBURY" pp723-24

7. Stormont, John W. (March 1946) [summer of 1945], AAFRH-19: The Combined Bomber Offensive; April through December 1943, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library: Collection of 20th Century Military Records, 1918–1950 Series I: Historical Studies Box 35: AAF Historical Office; Headquarters, Army Air Force, pp. 74–5, 81, SECRET ... Classification Cancelled ... JUN 10 1959

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 927