Synthetic rubber is an elastomer manufactured using petrochemicals. It can has excellent properties which can be managed to undergo much more elastic deformation under stress than most materials and still return to its previous size without permanent deformation. Synthetic rubber serves as a substitute for natural rubber in many cases, especially when improved material properties are needed. It is now an essential component in tyres manufacturing.
Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)
SBR is predominantly used for the production of car and light truck tires and truck tire retread compounds. A complete list of the uses of SBR includes houseware mats, drain board trays, shoe sole and heels, chewing gum, food container sealants, tires, conveyor belts, sponge articles, adhesives and caulks, automobile mats, brake and clutch pads, hose, V- belts, flooring, military tank pads, hard rubber battery box cases, extruded gaskets, rubber toys, moulded rubber goods, shoe soling, cable insulation and jacketing, pharmaceutical, surgical, and sanitary products, food packaging, etc.
Poly Butadiene
Poly Butadiene is a synthetic rubber that has a high resistance to wear and is used especially in the manufacture of tyres. It has also been used to coat or encapsulate electronic assemblies, offering extremely high electrical resistance. It exhibits a recovery of 80% after stress is applied, a value only exceeded by elastin and resilin.
The major use of polybutadiene is in tyres with over 70% of the polymer produced going into treads and sidewalls. Cured BR imparts excellent abrasion resistance (good tread wear), and low rolling resistance (good fuel economy). Polybutadiene is usually blended with other elastomers like natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber for tread compounds. Other applications include polystyrene for injection molding applications and golf balls.
Poly Isoprene
Though Poly Isoprene has lower strength, hot tear and aged properties and slower cure rates than natural rubber, it is superior in mixing, extrusion, moulding and calendering processes. It is widely used in applications where such conditions are required – low water swell, high gum tensile strength, good resilience, high tensile and good tack.
Most common applications include rubber bands, baby bottle nipples, extruded hose, footwear and sporting goods. It can be found in tyres, motor mounts, gaskets and shock absorber bushings.
Poly Isoprene can also be adapted for curing in moulding activities. Its uniform cure rate enables the establishment of exact time/temperature press cycles.
Butyl
Because of butyl polymers’ unique characteristics, barrier properties – high damping, resistance to ozone, heat and chemicals; very low permeability to air, gases and moisture; butyl is ideal for many applications in tyres and automotive, healthcare and medical equipment, industrial and construction, adhesive and even chewing gum! Butyl rubber is, in fact, the only rubber that is impermeable to air.
In the tyres and automotive industries, butyl polymers are used for innerliner, non-staining black sidewall, white sidewall, treading compound, heat resistant hose and dynamic parts including the body mounts. In medical industry, it can be found in protective clothing and closures for bottles.
It is also used in tank linings, conveyors belts and condenser packing. Added to asphalt compositions, it improves the weathering and low temperature properties of asphalt, increase toughness, impact and abrasion resistance. It is used extensively in manufacturing of roofing materials.
EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomers)
EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene rubber) is an elastomer which is characterized by wide range of applications. EPDM rubber is used in automotive weather-stripping and seals, radiators, garden and appliance hose, tubing, washers, belts, electrical insulations, roofing membrane, geo-membranes, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification, thermoplastic vulcanizates and motor oil additive applications.
Silicone Rubber
Silicone Rubber is used in mechanical engineering like shaft sealing rings, spark plug caps, radiator and automotive heating hoses, O-rings, corona and embossing roller gaskets, window and door seals, expansion joints etc. It is also used in electrical engineering application, for cables and cable terminations, corona-resistant insulation tubing, keyboards and contact mats, conductive profiled seals.
Its usage in medical applications includes tubing for dialysis and transfusion equipment, bellows for artificial respirators, catheters, dummies for babies.
Neoprene Rubber / Polychloroprene Rubber
Neoprene rubber is one of the best all-purpose elastomers where resistance to ozone, sunlight, oxidation and many petroleum derivatives are of prime importance. Its added advantages include good resistance to water, many chemicals, good resilience characteristics and tensile strength properties. It is often found in moulds and extruded rubber products.
Special-purpose rubber
We also trade in special-purpose rubbers such as Polyacrylic rubber (ABR), Epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), Polysulfide Rubber Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSM).
Reclaimed Rubber
Reclaimed rubber is a cured rubber produced after passing through various thermo-chemical processes. Reclaimed rubber is softened by shortening the polymer chain. It is used in various applications such as automobiles, aircraft, re-treading, belts & hoses, footwear, and adhesives. It is extensively used for industrial applications in place of synthetic rubber due to sustainability, less energy consumption, cost-effectiveness and also promotes environmental conservation by reducing the wastage and up-cycling.