Developments in Synthetic Rubber

The rapid development of the synthetic rubber industry throughout the war-torn world in the 1950s established the need for some organisation in which the issues of mutual interest could be discussed between the operating synthetic rubber plants in various countries. As a result the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers was constituted, having its main office located in New York, USA. 

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Significant developments in synthetic rubber began at this time. Outstanding were the introduction of polychloroprene (neoprene) by Carothers, and of the oil-resistant polysulfide rubber Thiokol by Patrick. These were soon followed by styrene-butadiene copolymers, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, and various other types, some of which were rushed into production for the war effort in the early 1940s. The stereospecific catalysts researched by Ziegler and Natta aided this development, including synthesis of true rubber hydrocarbon (polyisoprene). Since 1935 synthetic rubbers have been referred to as elastomers. 

Hargis G, Livigni RA, Aggarwal SL. Recent development in synthetic rubbers by anionic polymerization. In Whelan A, Lee KS, editors. Developments in Rubber Technology—4. Essex, UK Elsevier 1987. p 1. 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SYNTHETIC RUBBERS BY ANIONIC POLYMERIZATION... 

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