Natural Rubber NR:Derived from the sap of the Hevea brasiliensis tree, the basic chemical component iscis-polyisoprene, a polymer of isoprene.
Raw materials for tape, hose, and shoe production, suitable for making shock-absorbing parts and products used in fluids with hydroxide, such as brake oil in cars and ethanol.
Advantages: Excellent wear resistance, high elasticity, tensile strength, and elongation, acid and alkali resistance, and comprehensive performance.
Disadvantages: Not heat-resistant, not oil-resistant (except for vegetable oils), prone to expansion and dissolution in mineral oils or gasoline, alkali-resistant but not resistant to strong acids. Easily ages in air, and becomes sticky when heated.
2. Isoprene Rubber (IR)Full name: cis-1,4-polyisoprene; also known as synthetic natural rubber, it is a high-cis configuration synthetic rubber derived from isoprene, produced through solution polymerization. Due to its similar structure and properties to natural rubber, it is also referred to as synthetic natural rubber.
Can replace natural rubber in the manufacturing of heavy-duty and off-road tires, and is also suitable for producing various rubber products.
Advantages: Similar to natural rubber, it offers excellent elasticity and abrasion resistance, superior heat resistance, and good chemical stability. It also boasts uniform quality and better processing properties than natural rubber.
Flaw: The raw rubber (before processing) has significantly lower strength compared to natural rubber.
3. Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)General synthetic rubber is categorized into styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) based on the production method, which includes polymerized SBR, solution-polymerized SBR, and thermoplastic rubber.
Broadly used in the tire, shoe, fabric, and conveyor belt industries.
Advantages: Low-cost non-oil-resistant material with good water resistance. It exhibits good elasticity below a hardness of 70 and poor compressibility at high hardness. Compared to natural rubber, it has a more uniform quality, fewer impurities, and better wear resistance and aging resistance. It boasts good comprehensive properties and chemical stability, allowing for blending with natural rubber.
Disadvantages: The mechanical strength is relatively weak; it is not recommended for use in environments containing strong acids, ozone, oils, esters, fats, and most hydrocarbons.
4. Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)The full name is cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, which is produced by solution polymerization of butadiene.
Mostly used in tire production, a small portion is used for making cold-resistant products, shock-absorbing materials, as well as tapes, rubber shoes, etc.
Advantages: Sulfur vulcanized cis-polybutadiene exhibits exceptional cold resistance, wear resistance, and elasticity. It generates less heat under dynamic loads, has excellent aging resistance, and is easily compatible with natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, and others.
Flaws: Poor tear resistance and inadequate wet grip.
