Nitrile rubber applications

Nitrile rubber applications are belting, sheeting, cable jacketing, hose for fuel lines and air conditioners, sponge, gaskets, arctic/aviation O-... 

Nitrile mbber finds broad application in industry because of its excellent resistance to oil and chemicals, its good flexibility at low temperatures, high abrasion and heat resistance (up to 120°C), and good mechanical properties. Nitrile mbber consists of butadiene—acrylonitrile copolymers with an acrylonitrile content ranging from 15 to 45% (see Elastomers, SYNTHETIC, NITRILE RUBBER). In addition to the traditional applications of nitrile mbber for hoses, gaskets, seals, and oil well equipment, new applications have emerged with the development of nitrile mbber blends with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). These blends combine the chemical resistance and low temperature flexibility characteristics of nitrile mbber with the stability and ozone resistance of PVC. This has greatly expanded the use of nitrile mbber in outdoor applications for hoses, belts, and cable jackets, where ozone resistance is necessary. 

The rubbers may be vulcanised by conventional accelerated sulphur systems and also by peroxides. The vulcanisates are widely used in petrol hose and seal applications. Two limiting factors of the materials as rubbers are the tendency to harden in the presence of sulphur-bearing oils, particularly at elevated temperatures (presumably due to a form of vulcanisation), and the rather limited heat resistance. The latter may be improved somewhat by Judicious compounding to give vulcanisates that may be used up to 150°C. When for the above reasons nitrile rubbers are unsatisfactory it may be necessary to consider acrylic rubbers (Chapter 15), epichlorohydrin rubbers (Chapter 19) and in more extreme conditions fluororubbers (Chapter 13). 

The applications of polysulphide rubbers are due to their excellent oil and water resistance and their impermeability to gases. Because of other factors, including their unpleasant odour, particularly during processing, they are much less used than the two major oil-resistant synthetic rubbers, the polychloroprenes and the nitrile rubbers. 

The terms ebonite and hard rubber are now extended to cover hard produets made from synthetic rubbers. SBR is now replacing the natural materials in many ebonite applications whilst nitrile rubber ebonites are of interest where oil resistance is required. 

Structural applications of rubber base adhesives were also obtained using rubber-thermosetting resin blends, which provided high strength and low creep. The most common formulations contain phenolic resins and polychloroprene or nitrile rubber, and always need vulcanization. 

Butyl phenolic resin is a typical tackifier for solvent-borne polychloroprene adhesives. For these adhesives, rosin esters and coumarone-indene resins can also be used. For nitrile rubber adhesives, hydrogenated rosins and coumarone-indene resins can be used. For particular applications of both polychloroprene and nitrile rubber adhesives, chlorinated rubber can be added. Styrene-butadiene rubber adhesives use rosins, coumarone-indene, pinene-based resins and other aromatic resins. 

Applications of NBR adhesives can be divided in three groups (1) solely nitrile rubber (2) nitrile rubber/phenolic blends (3) nitrile rubber/epoxy blends. 

Nitrile rubber adhesives. The main application corresponds to laminating adhesives. PVC, polyvinyl acetate and other polymeric films can be laminated to several metals, including aluminium and brass, by using NBR adhesives. NBR adhesives can also be used to join medium-to-high polarity rubbers to polyamide substrates. The adhesive properties of NBR rubbers can be further improved by chemical modification using polyisocyanate or by grafting with methyl methacrylate. 

Polymers can be modified by the introduction of ionic groups [I]. The ionic polymers, also called ionomers, offer great potential in a variety of applications. Ionic rubbers are mostly prepared by metal ion neutralization of acid functionalized rubbers, such as carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber, carboxylated polybutadiene rubber, and carboxylated nitrile rubber 12-5]. Ionic rubbers under ambient conditions show moderate to high tensile and tear strength and high elongation. The ionic crosslinks are thermolabile and, thus, the materials can be processed just as thermoplastics are processed [6]. 

Nitrile rubber (NBR) was first commercialized by I.G. Farbindustry, Germany, in 1937, under the trade name of Buna N. Its excellent balance of properties confers it an important position in the elastomer series. Nitrile rubber, a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile, is widely used as an oil-resistant rubber. The acrylonitrile content decides the ultimate properties of the elastomer. In spite of possessing a favorable combination of physical properties, there has been a continuous demand to improve the aging resistance of NBR due to the tougher requirements of industrial and automotive applications. 

This chapter mainly aims at describing the various methods and processes developed for hydrogenation of nitrile rubber. The characterization, physical properties, and application of hydrogenated nitrile rubber are also discussed. Another small section on hydroformylation of nitrile rubber has been included. 

In a particular application involving a typical O type mount, the nitrile rubber (NR) compound causes a resonance frequency of 28 Hz, whereas resonance was previously tolerable only well below 20 Hz. In this case, a blend of NR and bromobutyl rubber is more suitable. A comparison is shown in Table 3. 

The use of plasticisers, with other than PVC applications, is extensive. Many polar rubber sealants or caulking materials are plasticised in order to make them more pliable, e.g., polysulfides, polychloroprene (Neoprene ), nitrile rubber. Esters, similar to those employed with PVC, are used to render cellulose diacetate ("Acetate") overhead projection sheets more flexible. 

Nitrile rubber, due to its oil resistance, is widely used in sealing applications, hose liners, roll coverings, conveyor belts, shoe soles and plant linings. Nitrile rubber is also available as a latex. 

The chlorine atom also confers an increased level of resistance to oils, so that the oil resistance of polychloroprene is roughly intermediate between natural rubber and nitrile rubber, and is often sufficient for many applications. Polychloroprene is also self-extinguishing in flame tests. 

The main use for acrylates is in sealing applications where the improved heat stability over nitrile rubber is the benefit. Automotive transmission seals are probably the major use, other automotive applications include O-rings, hose, tubing, cable covering and spark plug boots. Also used in adhesive formulations. 

MPR competes with crosslinked nitrile rubber for demanding applications (in the automotive sector, for example) needing oil and grease resistance, noise dampening, stress relaxation similar to vulcanized rubber, good bonding to PVC, PC, ABS. 

Nitrile rubber (NBR), a copolymer of 1,3-butadiene with 20-40% acrylonitrile, is noted for its oil resistance. More than 150 million pounds are produced annually in the United States. Applications include fuel tanks, gasoline hoses, and creamery equipment. Nitrile resin is made by copolymerizing acrylonitrile with about 20-30% styrene or methyl methacrylate in the presence of NBR or SBR rubber to yield a blend of the graft terpolymer and homocopolymer. Applications include extruded and blow-molded containers for household, automotive, and other products as well as some nonbeverage foods (spices, vitamins, candy). 

An example of this type of a safer chemical is methacrylonitrile (1) compared with acrylonitrile (2) (Figure 1.1). Both compounds are a, 3-unsaturated aliphatic nitriles, and structurally very similar, but 2 causes cancer whereas 1 does not appear to do so. Among other applications, 2 is used in the production of acrylic and modacrylic fibers, elastomers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and styrene-acrylonitrile resins, nitrile rubbers, and gas barrier resins. In a study conducted by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) in which 2 was administered orally to mice for 2 years, there was clear evidence that it caused cancer in the treated mice (in addition to causing other toxic effects), and is classified by the NTP as a probable human carcinogen [26]. 

The chemical intermediates adiponitrile and acrylamide have surpassed nitrile rubbers as end-use products of acrylonitrile in the United States and Japan. Adiponitrile is further converted to hexamethylenediamine (HMDA), which is used to manufacture nylon 6/6. Acrylamide is used to produce water-soluble polymers or copolymers used for paper manufacturing, waste treatment, mining applications and enhanced oil recovery (Langvardt, 1985 Brazdil, 1991). 

Nitrile rubbers, the original driving force behind acrylonitrile production, have taken a less significant place as end-use products. They are butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers with an acrylonitrile content ranging from 15 to 45%, and find industrial applications in... 

Except for the monomers used, the production of NBRs is quite similar to that described for the SBRs. The NBR family is sometimes referred to as the nitrile rubbers. The acrylonilnle-buiadiene ratios cover a wide range from 15 85 to 50.50. NBRs are noted for their solvent resistance, increasing wiih the acrylonitrile content Thus, they are used for gaskets and oil and gasoline hoses, solvent-resistant electrical insulation, and Ibod-wrnpping films. Nitrile lattices also are used in treating fabrics for dry-cleaning durability. Because the NBRs become quite inflexible (stiff) at low temperatures (actually brittle at about -20 C). they arc blended with polyvinyl chloride for some applications. 

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