Whether used for natural or synthetic rubber, rubber chemicals play an essential role.
Why are rubber chemicals used in rubber products?
Rubber products are used in many applications where they have to perform whilst being exposed to stress and the elements. Just think of a car tyre: day after day, it is exposed to rough surfaces, heat, water, snow, ice, sunlight and potentially corrosive products on the road. Rubber chemicals make rubber products stronger and more durable.
Ozone Resistance
Ozone or dynamic stress (fatigue) can lead to cracking on the surface of the rubber article. Rubber chemicals can mitigate the risk of ozone stress.
UV Resistance
Long-term exposure to UV light can have an impact on rubber products. Rubber chemicals can help reduce this impact.
Durability
Antidegradants protect rubber against a range of damaging external influences that can cause fatigue, brittleness, cracks and even disintegration. This helps extend the lifetime of rubber products.
Oxidisation Resistance
Unsaturated groups in the rubber molecule cause a sensitivity to oxygen, which increases with temperature. Under certain circumstances this can cause hardening and embrittlement, crazing effects and fatigue. Rubber chemicals counter oxidisation.
Performance & Safety
Rubber chemicals can increase the performance of rubber products. For example, in tyres, rubber chemicals can improve wet grip and rolling resistance conflict.
Why rubber chemicals are used in rubber production?
One of the chemical reactions in the rubber production process is that of rubber with sulphur. This process makes rubber products elastic and tough at the same time. Sulphur vulcanisation requires the use of vulcanisation accelerators to make the process efficient.
Time
Accelerators reduce the time needed for the vulcanisation process.
Energy Savings
Accelerators help achieve vulcanisation at lower temperatures thus saving energy.
Efficiency
Accelerators make the vulcanisation process more efficient and increase the quality of the rubber.