The Science of Rubber Compounding

Each class of materials is reviewed in this chapter. [Pg.417]

World rubber usage of around 25.8 million metric tons is split between natural rubber, which constitutes about 43% of global consumption, and synthetic rubber, of which styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) accounts for 21%. The balance of synthetic rubbers (36%) consists of polybutadiene rubber (BR) and a range of specialty polymers such as polyurethanes, halogenated polymers, silicones, and acrylates. Traditionally, the growth of synthetic and natural rubber consumption is virtually in line with the change in gross domestic product of, collectively. North America, Europe, Japan, China, and India. [Pg.418]

Global natural rubber consumption is split among tires (75%), automotive mechanical products (5%), nonautomotive mechanical products (10%), and miscellaneous applications such as medical and health-related products (10%). Since the 1960s, the quality and consistency of natural rubber has improved, primarily because of the implementation of standard specifications defining a range of grades of rubber. Natural rubber is available in three basic types technically specified rubbers, visually inspected rubbers, and specialty rubbers. [Pg.418]

TABLE 9.1 Specifications for Technically Graded Natural Rubber [Pg.418]

TABLE 9.2 International Natural Rubber Type and Grade Specification [Pg.419]

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