RUBBER

Points we addressed
1. What is Rubber

2. Types of Rubber

3. Preparation of Rubber

4. Properties of Rubber

5. Use of Rubber

6. Conclusion
 What is Rubber?

 Rubber is one of the most important materials used in mechanical engineering. It is used in a
wide range of applications, from seals to drive belts, and from tires to gaskets. Rubber has great
resilience and elasticity, which makes it an ideal material for use in a variety of mechanical
engineering applications.
 Rubber is a natural product made by plants. Throughout the history of humanity and the rise of
human civilizations, rubber has played a significant role. Today, we obtain 99% of the natural
rubber we use from a tree known as Hevea brasiliensis. Hence, rubber is an elastic material
from the emission of some tropical plants (natural rubber) or extracted from petroleum
and natural gas (synthetic rubber). Rubber is an elastic, flexible, and tough substance therefore, it
can be used to manufacture tires for vehicles, aircraft, bicycles, etc.
 Types of Rubber

 The two primary categories into which the various rubber types can be divided are

1. Natural Rubber

2. Synthetic Rubber

3. Vulcanized rubber is sometimes considered to be a form of rubber as well.

Picture of the 3 types of Rubber
1. Natural Rubber

• Natural Rubber – Natural rubber is the type of rubber obtained naturally from the

milky liquid or latex obtained from the rubber tree. It is also known as India or gum

rubber. Natural rubber can be vulcanized into many different types of rubber

products. It’s a natural polymer derived from a rubber tree’s latex sap. Rubber’s

elasticity makes it a popular material. Vulcanized natural rubber is used to make a

variety of items.
• Polyisoprene is the chemical name for natural rubber. Natural rubber’s best feature is that it

is biodegradable and renewable because it is extracted from trees. Thousands of items,

including surgical gloves, medical gadgets, aircraft, and vehicle tires, mattresses, shoe soles,
rubber boots, toys, and more, rely on it as basic material
• Isoprene (2-methyl, 13-butadiene) is the monomer of natural rubber. Natural

rubber is the polymer of this isoprene, and its chemical name is ‘cis – 1,4 –
polyisoprene.’
 Preparation of Natural Rubber

• The latex sap of the rubber tree is used to make natural rubber. The latex is
harvested by affixing a container to the rubber tree, which is referred to as tapping.
After that, formic acid is used to coagulate the latex. They become a hard mass as a
result of this process. These rubbers are now completely dried, either with a series
of rollers or by allowing them to air dry for several days. These natural rubbers are
now ready for processing and will be used to make a variety of products.
2. Synthetic Rubber

• Synthetic Rubber – Synthetic rubber is a man-made or artificial polymer. This

rubber is an artificial elastomer obtained by synthesizing petroleum products under
controlled conditions. An example of synthetic rubber is Neoprene which is made
up of monomer unit chloropreneAny artificial elastomer is referred to as synthetic
rubber. Synthetic rubber is typically made up of additional polymers of polyene
monomers, and laminates including such a layer will be categorized as additional
polymers unless the synthetic rubber is disclosed as a polysulfide rubber.
 Preparation of synthetic Rubber

Various synthetic rubbers are made using the polymerization process, such as neoprene
by addition polymerization, Buna-S, and Buna-N through co-polymerization.

• Neoprene: Neoprene, commonly known as polychloroprene, is a homopolymer

made from chloroprene polymerized by free radicals. It has a strong oil resistance
and is used to make conveyor belts, hoses, and gaskets, among other things.
• Buna-S: Buna – S is formed by the copolymerization of 1,3-
butadiene and styrene. It has a high tensile strength and can be used as
a natural rubber alternative. It’s utilized to create car tires, footwear
components, cable insulators, and other things.
• Buna-N: Buna – N is a copolymer made by polymerizing 1,3-
butadiene with acrylonitrile in the presence of a peroxide catalyst.
Oils, petrol, and some organic solvents won’t harm it. They’re
typically utilized to make tank linings, oil seals, and other such things.
 3. Volcanized Rubber

• Vulcanized Rubber – Vulcanized rubber is the substance that is obtained after the
vulcanization of natural rubber. Vulcanization is the process that is done to improve
the properties of natural rubber; so that, it can have more desirable properties. An
elastomer that has been strengthened by the biochemical process of vulcanization is
known as vulcanized rubber. A curing agent, typically sulfur, is mixed with the
milky latex from the rubber tree and heated under pressure.
 Properties of Rubber

1. It is elastic. because of this property a rubber band can be stretched to 9 or 10

times its original length and when the load is removed it regains its original length.
2. It is strong and tough. Because of this property it can be put to use even under
abnormal conditions.
3. It is highly impermeable to both water and air and therefore, it can be used to
retain water as in rubber bottles, hoses etc.
4. It exhibits a great resistance to abrasion, tearing and cutting over a wide range of
temperature 7 to 115°C.
5. It is a bad conductor of heat.
6. It can contain liquids and gases.
7. The synthetic rubber offers great resistance to acids,
petroleum products etc.
8. Its properties such as hardness, strength, abrasion,
resistance etc., can be modified to the desired extent
by compounding techniques.
 Preparation of Rubber
After natural or synthetic rubber is made, it is delivered to processor plants to be processed into the final product, which may then be utilized to make a

variety of goods. Compounding, mixing, shaping, and vulcanizing are the four processes in the rubber processing process.

1. Compounding: Rubber is fortified with additives and chemicals to improve its tensile strength and characteristics. Carbon black fillers, for example, are

added to rubber to boost its tensile strength and protect it from ultraviolet radiation degradation.

2. Mixing: Rubber must be well mixed with the additives before use. The temperature is raised for this purpose, and the additives are thoroughly blended
3. Shaping: Extrusion, calendaring, molding or coating, and casting are four
common methods for shaping rubber items. Extruders force a highly plastic
rubber through a series of screw extruders to create rubbers. Calendering
follows this phase, which involves passing the rubber through a series of
smaller gaps between rollers. This roller-die method combines extrusion and
calendaring to create a superior result. The coating is the application of a
rubber coat or the pushing of rubber into cloth or other materials. Rubber
coatings are used to make tires, waterproof textile tents, raincoats, conveyor
belts, and other items. Molds are used to make rubber products such as shoe
soles and heels, seals, suction cups, and bottle stops.
4. Vulcanization: The rubber-processing process is finished with
vulcanization. Sulfur cross connections between rubber polymers
are formed during vulcanization. Rubber that has fewer cross-
connections between its polymers is softer. The elasticity of the
rubber is reduced as the number of cross-connections increases,
resulting in harder rubber. Rubber would be sticky when hot and
brittle when cold if it wasn’t vulcanized.
 Use of Rubber

 One of the largest consumers of rubber is the tire and tube industry. To make natural
rubber more durable, it is combined with synthetic rubber over time.

 Rubber is also employed in other areas of the vehicle industry. Seals and various
types of cushioning for different car parts are made from natural rubber. For example,
it’s used to make brake pads and window and windshield seals in automobiles.

 Rubber is used to produce airbags in automobiles, which protect passengers from

damage caused by accidents.
 Clothing: Because natural rubber is elastic in its fibrous form, it is
utilized to make clothing that is tight-fitting and expandable, such as
swimwear and cycling shorts.
 Rubber is utilized to make flooring in a variety of business
establishments, kitchens, and even playgrounds. It creates a cushioned
surface that is also slip-resistant and waterproof. It’s simple to keep up
with and lasts a long time.
 Gaskets: Gaskets are used to prevent leakage or fill uneven spaces
between two or more mechanical parts.
 Erasers: This rubber device could “rub” away pencil marks on paper,
earning it the name “eraser.”
 Natural rubber was used by ancient Mesoamerican civilizations to build
waterproof shoes and bottles. Not only that but it was also utilized to make a
sports ball for a game called football, which is comparable to modern-day
basketball.
 Rubber is utilized as an adhesive and a protective layer for a variety of
surfaces in its latex state.
 Rubber gloves are a well-known rubber product since they are frequently
used to keep our hands safe and clean.
 Rubber is used to make soundproofing materials and a variety of children’s
rubber toys
 Conclusion

In conclusion , rubber is an incredibly useful in mechanical engineering due to its versatile

properties such as electrical insulation, low friction coefficient, shock absorption capabilities,
elasticity and sealing ability. These characteristics allow rubber to be used in a wide variety of
application ranging from automotive component like tires all the way up through medical
equipment like gloves or catheters.
Thanks