2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
Rubber is a well-known material that is used in almost all spheres of human life. Medicine, agriculture, industry cannot do without this polymer. Many manufacturing processes also use rubber. What this material is made of and what are its features are described in the article.
What is rubber
Rubber is a highly elastic polymer. Its structure is represented by randomly arranged carbon chains held together by sulfur atoms.
In the normal state, carbon chains have a twisted appearance. If the rubber is stretched, the carbon chains will unwind. The ability to stretch and quickly return to its original shape has made rubber such a material indispensable in many areas.
What is it made of? Typically, rubber is made by mixing rubber with a vulcanizing agent. After heating to the desired temperature, the mixture thickens.
The difference between rubber and rubber
Rubber and rubber are high molecular weight polymers derived from naturalor synthetically. These materials differ in physical and chemical properties and production methods. Natural rubber is a substance made from the sap of tropical trees - latex. It flows out of the cortex when it is damaged. Synthetic rubber is obtained by polymerization of styrene, neoprene, butadiene, isobutylene, chloroprene, acrylic acid nitrile. When artificial rubber is vulcanized, rubber is formed.
What are different types of rubber made of? For certain types of synthetic materials, organic substances are used to obtain a material identical to natural rubber.
Rubber properties
Rubber is a versatile material that has the following properties:
- High elasticity - the ability to large reverse deformation over a wide temperature range.
- Elasticity and shape stability at small deformations.
- Amorphous - easily deformed with slight pressure.
- Relative softness.
- Poorly absorbs water.
- Strength and wear resistance.
- Depending on the type of rubber, rubber can be characterized by water, oil, gasoline, heat resistance and resistance to chemicals, ionizing and light radiation.
Rubber loses its properties and shape over time, which is manifested by destruction and a decrease in strength. The service life of rubber products depends on the conditions of use and can range from several days to several years. Even with long-term storagerubber ages and becomes unusable.
Rubber production
Rubber is made by vulcanizing rubber with the addition of mixtures. Typically, 20-60% of the processed mass is rubber. Other components of the rubber compound are fillers, vulcanizing agents, accelerators, plasticizers, antioxidants. Dyes, fragrances, modifiers, fire retardants and other components can also be added to the composition of the mass. The set of components is determined by the required properties, operating conditions, the technology of using the finished rubber product and economic calculations. In this way, high-quality rubber is created.
What are semi-finished rubber products made of? For this purpose, the production uses the technology of mixing rubber with other components in special mixers or rollers designed for the manufacture of semi-finished products, followed by cutting and cutting. The production cycle uses presses, autoclaves, drum and tunnel vulcanizers. The rubber compound is given high plasticity, thanks to which the future product acquires the necessary shape.
Rubber products
Today, rubber is used in sports, medicine, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. The total number of products made from rubber exceeds more than 60 thousand varieties. The most popular of them are seals, shock absorbers, tubes, seals, sealants, rubberized coatings, facingmaterials.
Rubber products are widely used in manufacturing processes. This material is also indispensable in the production of gloves, shoes, belts, waterproof fabrics, transport tapes.
Most of the rubber produced is used to make tires.
Rubber in tire production
Rubber is the main material in the production of car tires. This process begins with the preparation of a rubber compound from natural and synthetic rubber. Then silica, soot and other chemical components are added to the rubber mass. After thorough mixing, the mixture is sent along a conveyor belt to the oven. The output is rubber bands of a certain length.
At the next stage, the cord is rubberized. Textile and metal cord is filled with hot rubber mass. In this way, the inner, textile and belt layer of the tire is made.
What is tire rubber made of? All tire manufacturers use different formulations and rubber manufacturing technologies. To give the finished product strength and reliability, various plasticizers and reinforcing fillers can be added.
Tires are made from natural rubber. Its addition to the rubber compound reduces tire heating. Most of the rubber compound is synthetic rubber. This component gives tires elasticity and the ability to withstand heavy loads.
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