Preparation of Rubber
After natural or synthetic rubber is made, it is delivered to processor plants to be processed into the final product, which may then be utilized to make a variety of goods. Compounding, mixing, shaping, and vulcanizing are the four processes in the rubber processing process.
- Compounding: Rubber is fortified with additives and chemicals to improve its tensile strength and characteristics. Carbon black fillers, for example, are added to rubber to boost its tensile strength and protect it from ultraviolet radiation degradation.
- Mixing: Rubber must be well mixed with the additives before use. The temperature is raised for this purpose, and the additives are thoroughly blended.
- Shaping: Extrusion, calendering, molding or coating, and casting are four common methods for shaping rubber items. Extruders force a highly plastic rubber through a series of screw extruders to create rubbers. Calendering follows this phase, which involves passing the rubber through a series of smaller gaps between rollers. This roller-die method combines extrusion and calendering to create a superior result. The coating is the application of a rubber coat or the pushing of rubber into cloth or other materials. Rubber coatings are used to make tires, waterproof textile tents, raincoats, conveyor belts, and other items. Molds are used to make rubber products such as shoe soles and heels, seals, suction cups, and bottle stops.
- Vulcanization: The rubber-processing process is finished with vulcanization. Sulfur cross-connections between rubber polymers are formed during vulcanization. Rubber that has fewer cross-connections between its polymers is softer. The elasticity of the rubber is reduced as the number of cross-connections increases, resulting in harder rubber. Rubber would be sticky when hot and brittle when cold if it wasn’t vulcanized.
Rubber
Rubber is a natural product made by plants. Throughout the history of humanity and the rise of human civilizations, rubber has played a significant role. Today, we obtain 99% of the natural rubber we use from a tree known as Hevea brasiliensis. Hence, rubber is an elastic material produced from the emission of some tropical plants (natural rubber) or extracted from petroleum and natural gas (synthetic rubber). Rubber is an elastic, flexible, and tough substance therefore, it can be used to manufacture tires for vehicles, aircraft, bicycles, etc.