Sole base elastomer

Natural rubber is also widely used in nontire applications which account for approximately 30% of the consumption of all rubber as an aggregate (including both natural and synthetic rubber). However, in the nontire sector, natural rubber was about 22% of total rubber consumption in 2012. Many times natural rubber is used as the sole base elastomer in compounds used in automotive bushings, motor mounts, vibration isolators, and dampers. On the other hand, NR is blended with SBR for compounds used in conveyor belts, welding hose covers, braided water hose, laboratory tubing, footwear knee boots, footwear microcellular compounds, footwear boot uppers, tank linings, and play balls. NR/BR blended compounds are used to make conveyor belt cover stocks, shoe soling, and so on. 

Also in existence is the joint-venture web site for leading elastomers suppliers that include Bayer, CK Witco Corp., DSM Elastomers, DuPont-Dow Elastomers L.L.C., Flexsys, M.A. Hanna Rubber Compounding, and Zeon Chemicals L.P. They targeted to create www.ElastomerSolutions.com, a global marketplace and customer-focused, web-based community devoted solely to the sale of elastomers and associated products. 

Based on the numbers in Figures 1 and 2, by 1985 RIM and RRIM will require approximately 50 M lbs. of monomeric MDI, which is about one-third of the monomeric MDI supply in 1985 (Table IX based on 20-25% of 85% nameplate capacity, excluding ARCO capacity, = 137-171 M lbs. monomeric MDI). This will leave about 100 M lbs. of monomeric MDI for cast elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, shoe soles, semi-rigid foams, and some adhesives and sealants, a monomeric MDI supply which should be more than sufficient for these applications. As RRIM grows, a need for capacity expansion can be seen in the late 1980 s. No effects on the market will be seen from PUR-SMC until after 1985, and at the present time meaningful projections are impossible. 

The polyether polyols based exclusively on ACN are commercialised because of their high glass transition temperature (T ) of the polyacrylonitrile solid fraction. However, they are not used for production of slabstock foams, but for PU elastomers (microcellular elastomers for shoe soles) and integral skin foams. 

Polyester thermoplastic elastomers are tough materials which exhibit useful mechanical properties over the range — 40-130°C. As polar polymers they have good oil and fuel resistance they are attacked by chlorinated solvents and by concentrated acids and bases. Despite their rather high cost relative to most other rubbers, polyester thermoplastic elastomers have found various uses, including automotive parts, gear wheels and boot soles. 

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