Synthetic Rubber Types

          Nowadays there are many different synthetic rubbers existing in the rubber processing industry other than natural rubber as previously mentioned. Among them some of commonly used types are mentioned here.

• Poly Isoprene Rubber (IR)

Dirt content is low compared to the natural rubber and the color is comparatively good because of the low level of impurities. Even though this contains isoprene the curing time is long as absents of natural non rubber accelerators. 

• Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

It contains 75-77% butadiene and 23-25% styrene. SBR has low strength due to crystallinity of styrene and has low flexibility due to phenol group. Its weather resistance is good since fewer amounts of unsaturated double bonds.

• Isoprene Isobutylene Rubber (IIR)

IIR is mostly used in membranes and tube manufacturing because it has very law gas permeability. Not only that it has good weather resistance, insulation properties, shock absorption properties. It’s curing time also high.  

• Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR)

Sulfur(S) vulcanization can’t be done in EPR. But in some cases monomers like EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is added to perform sulfur vulcanization. EPR is generally used in outdoor applications and shipping industry as it has good weather and heat resistance.

• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR)

NBR is a polar rubber which is specially used to produce horses, oil seals, printing rollers and customized products etc. It can be blend with PVC to enhance flame retardant properties. S vulcanization also can be done.

 

• Silicon Rubber (SI)

 SI is an inorganic rubber with inorganic backbone. It is mainly used in manufacturing surgical gloves, by pass valves etc. Its weather resistance and thermal stability is very good.   

• Chloroprene Rubber (CR)

Because of its chlorine (Cl) contain monomer it has high flame retardant property. Sulfur vulcanization can’t be done for it.  CR is also polar rubber. It has good resistance for petroleum oils.