Elastomer market

J. Mihahch, paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Thermoplastic Elastomer Markets and Products, Schodand Business Research, Odando, Ha., Mar. 15-17,1989. 

The "living characteristic of lithium initiators is uniquely suited to synthesis of block copolymers. A rapidly growing new type of thermoplastic elastomer market is based on this technology. 

High cis- 1,4-poly butadiene is manufactured on a large industrial scale and occupies a well-defined position in the elastomers market. It is employed mainly in the tyre industry, where it is blended with natural rubber and/or with styrene-butadiene rubber and applied in either sidewalls, threads or rims of tyres. It should be noted in this connection that natural rubber, in contrast to its synthetic counterpart, displays some physical properties that appear to be useful in the manufacture of tyres for heavy-duty machines. The fact is that some non-hydrocarbon substances appearing in natural rubber in small amounts (such as polypeptides) protect the high-dimensional tyre formed against collapsing prior to the vulcanisation process and thus enable a high-quality product to be obtained. 

They combine the high strength, oil- and gas-resistance of polyurethanes with the advantage of thermoplastic processability. They are about 15 percent of the total thermoplastic elastomer market, used in auto parts, wire and cable, medical products, and fuel hose. 

Williams, J.L. Medical Applications for Thermoplastic Elastomers, Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Thermoplastic Elastomer Markets and Technology Schotland Business Research, Inc. Princeton, NJ, 1988. 

A recently developed one-step ammonoxidation process to acrylonitrile developed by BP Chemicals uses propane instead of propylene feed [21]. Key to the feasibility of this lower cost option was the development of the new catalyst system, which is now at the commercial demonstration stage. Almost all the acrylonitrile production goes into synthetic polymers and copolymers mostly for applications as fibers, some for plastics applications, and a small percentage to elastomer markets (the nitrile rubbers). 

Pellethane.html). Polyurethanes are generally expensive and have found uses in high performance structural applications, medical and healthcare products as well as foams. Approximately 15% of the thermoplastic elastomer market is claimed by polyurethanes. 

Both NR and SR are traded in a dry and in a liquid form. The elastomer market (Table 9.5.1) is divided into three major zones (USA, Europe and Southeast Asia) each of which has its own dynamics very closely linked to its internal growth. In the years 2006-2007 China increased its synthetic rubber consumption (-1-19.3%) more quickly than its natural rubber consumption... 

Table 9.5.1 Elastomer market (1000 mto) Source International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) NR = natural rubber SR = synthetic rubber.

Poly(cii-l,4-isoprene) is the polymer that gives natural rubber a very competitive share of the elastomer market. In Hevea brasiliensis latex, this polymer is stored in so-called rubber particles , which make up 20 to 45% of the latex volume. Much work has been undertaken to understand the biosynthesis pathway of this very-long-chain polymer, which stands out through having almost 100% cis double bonds. 

James M. Margolis, Thermoplastic Elastomer Markets in 2000, Multiclient Report,... 

P. Tandon and M. Stockdale, Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Thermoplastic Elastomer Markets and Products, Schotland Business Research, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 13-15, 1991. 

The successful epoxidation of NR, by employing a hydrogen peroxide/formic acid system under controlled conditions, has ensured epoxidized rubber (ENR) its place in the elastomer market. Essentially, ENR of any desired level of epoxidation ranging from 1 to 90% can be prepared. Increasing the level of epoxidation systematically changes the properties of the rubber. The increase in Jg and Mooney viscosity of ENR with increase in epoxidation level is indicated in Table 12.5. Currently ENR 10, 25, 50 and 60 (10, 25, 50 and 60% mole epoxidation, respectively) can be found on the market. Scheme 12.4 shows the structural formulae of ENR. 

Polychloroprene was one of the first synthetic elastomers to be developed and still today may be considered to be the most important of the special-purpose rubbers. With world production, excluding the Soviet Union, of the order of 300 000 metric tons per annum in the mid-1970s it accounts for about 5% of the world elastomer market. First introduced by Du Pont under the trade name Duprene in 1931 it became marketed under the name Neoprene which Du Pont have subsequently used ever since. Whilst Du Pont remains the major producer, other closely related materials are available under such names as Baypren (Farbenfabriken Bayer), Sovprene, Nairit (USSR), Butachlor (Distugil), Denka Polychloroprene (Denki Kagaku Kogyo) and Skyprene (Toyo Soda). 

Mihalich J. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on feermoplastic elastomer markets and products sponsored by Schotland Business Research March 15-17,1989. Orlando, FL. 

In the mid-1970s, Hercules Chemical Company introduced two polyol ester plasticizers, Hercoflex 600 and Hercoflex 707. These plasticizers were prepared by the esterification of pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol with a mixture of short-chain acids, predominately C6 acid. Although a few PVC applications and patents were developed, because of high costs, they have met with limited commercial success in PVC, although the products continue to be sold into the elastomer market in both North America and in Europe. A PVC plasticizer based on the pentaerythritol ester prepared with predominately C5 acids plus lesser amounts of C7 and C9 acids was patented in 1995 [41] as a low smoke plasticizer. The pentaerythritol ester prepared from C5 acids [42] is now being promoted by the Perstorp Group as a new phthalate alternative under the product brand Pevalen. 

Thermoplastic elastomers, of which polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane-ureas are important factors, are rapidly replacing thermoset rubbers and metals, as well as entire assemblies made of these and other materials of construction. The thermoplastic elastomer market is greater than 1 billion pound per year and is growing at a rate of 9 percent per year (77). The broad utility of thermoplastic elastomers in the creative design of products for a number of end uses, such as automotive parts, athletic footwear, seals, jewelry, etc., has been described by Sheridan (78). 

Detailed information on the synthesis of PEBA is presented in Chapters 2 and 10 and also in [13-16]. However, it is worth mentioning here that commercially available poly (ether- -amide) PEBAX copolymers are synthesized by melt polycondensation of carboxylic acid-terminated amide blocks with poly-(oxyalkylene glycol)s. The polymerization is catalyzed by a metal alkoxide Ti(OR)4 and is carried out at elevated temperatures of ca. 230°C under vacuum. These copolymers are marketed for use in many areas, a few of which include sports equipment, automotive components, applications that require polymers with antistatic properties, and also in biomedical applications, such as tubing and catheter balloons [17]. There is also a growing body of literature on the use of PEBAX in the manufacture of membranes for gas separations. Vestamid E-Series elastomers marketed by Degussa-Htils are another commercial example of PTMO-PA12 based PEBA copolymers. 

SEBS, TPV, and TPO-type thermoplastic elastomers. .. markets, economics, technology, intermaterials competition and the role of metallocene resins. Multiclient Study, Robert Eller Associates, Inc., 2000. 

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