Common Materials Used in Custom Rubber Parts and Their Applications |

Andrew dodo820332023Common Materials Used in Custom Rubber Parts and Applications

Custom rubber parts are indispensable accessories of modern industry due to their superior elasticity and designability, and are widely used in various fields. Material selection [1] is a critical factor when you are thinking of custom rubber parts for various applications. This article summarizes some of the most common materials used for custom rubber components and discusses in detail the properties, application fields and development trend.

NR Applications and the Limitation

Natural Rubber (NR) is derived from the latex of rubber trees, whose major constituent is cis-1, 4-polyisoprene, and it is considered one of the oldest and most widely used rubberaceous materials.

1.1: KEY BENEFITS The NR provides a lot of benefits as detailed below:

Very good mechanical properties: high tensile strength, elongation at break and excellent resilience enable it to withstand large deformation and quickly return to its original state.

The NR has better wear resistance and service life in both dynamic friction conditions.

NR is a hard rubber with good elasticity at low temperature.

Adhesion with good properties: The non-rubber (NR) is easily bonded with other materials that can help develop and use of composite materials.

One of the most important synthetic rubbers is NR, but NR has its advantages and disadvantages and has the following disadvantages as well: it is resistant to oil and solvent relatively poor, heat aging ozone and light aging sensitivity. This means that NR is mainly used in the following market segments:

Tire industry: the main part of the tires of cars, trucks, and construction machinery, especially for high wear resistance and high fatigue resistance.

Shock absorber: using its high elasticity that may be used to produce and manufacture types of shock absorbers and shock pads used to reduce the impact of the mechanical vibration and noise.

Used to seal all sorts seals, joints, gaskets, but the wax should avoid to contact the solvent oil.

Tension strength conveyor: safe wear, used for granular, block and other conveying materials.

2.1 The research direction: At present, the main direction is to enhance the oil resistance and aging resistance of NR. Chemical modification, physical mixing and other ways to enhance its scope of application.

Second one is technology development and application of synthetic rubber (SR)

Synthetic rubber (SR) A wide variety of rubber materials using the artificial synthetic method are an important option for customized rubber parts.

2.1 Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) The butadiene and styrene copolymerized thermoplastic that is most widely used today is the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). SBR is little poor in mechanically properties as compared to NR but has better wear resistance, heat resistance and production cost than NR. Common uses: Tires, soles, tape. A two-phase SBR is treated by new polymerization technologies, and the performance of SBR is on the steady rise.

2.2 Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) Nitrile rubber has good resistance to oil and solvent depends on the acrylonitrile (AN) content. 足 NBR is widely used for making oil seal and O-ring, etc. And you are one of you main sealing material for all hydraulic and pneumatic systems. But the low temperature performance of this kind of plastic is poor, so it should be selected according to the use environment. It is one of the important researched direction to carry out NBR modification at low temperature to improve its low temperature property.

2.3 Ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM) : EPDM has superior weather resistance, ozone resistance, chemical corrosion resistance and electrical insulation. This, in turn, is why EPDM is also frequently used outdoors, in things like automotive seals, wire and cable insulation, building waterproofing materials and solar collector seals. One of the major research directions in modifying EPDM to enhance its mechanical properties is through the process of crosslinking.

2.4Special synthesis rubber: According to the application needs of higher performance, we developed silicone rubber (VMQ),Fuolong rubber (FKMProduct quality) and other special synthetic rubber. Most silicone rubber can withstand high and low temperature, and have both a good biocompatibility,so they are widely used in medical equipment, food industry etc. Because of excellent high temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance, fluorine rubber is playing an irreplaceable role in aerospace, petrochemical and other fields. However, special rubber is usually expensive, and performance and cost factors need to be comprehensive consideration.

3rd New rubber materials and temperature resistant modification process.

With the continuous development of science and technology, more and more new rubber materials have been developed, and the modification technology of traditional rubber materials is constantly updated.

3.1 Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) : TPE has the elasticity of rubber and the processability of thermoplastic plastic. TPE simplifies the production process and reduces the production cost. At the same time, TPE has good recycling value. 4 Prospects of TPE Application Automotive interior, electronic products, etc. All have a wide application prospect for TPE.

3.2 Nano-composite rubber: The integration of nanomaterials (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphite) within the rubber matrix can substantially improve the mechanical performance, abrasion resistance and conductivity of rubber. Nano-composite rubber is a wide field of application and potential production of high performance tires, special seals, and so on.

3.3 Bio-degradable rubber: the use of renewable resources (Vegetable oil, starch) to synthesize biodegradable rubber, environmental friendly and sustainable advantage. General latex, Natural rubber, Brominated rubber; The production and application of rubber; The origin of rubber resources; The development of bio-based rubber and its utilization in the rubber industry is one of the development trend.

Iv. Conclusion and Prospect

Material selection for custom rubber components should be based on application needs, including material performance, cost, processability and environmental protection. And with the emergence of new rubber materials in a never-ending stream, modification technology is more and more mature, performance, function and application field of customized rubber parts will also enter a broader development space. To this end, further research, especially on the new and current high-performance-low-cost eco-friendly rubber materials and relevant modification technologies should be promoted to facilitate the sustainable development of the customized rubber parts industry.