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As early as 1826 Michael Faradaydiscovered the chemical structure
of rubber. In 1909, the German
chemist Fritz Hofmann was the
first to patent the production of
synthetic rubber. After World War I,
the patent was expropriated and
the production was discontinued.
In 1930, the Americans began
large-scale manufacture of synthetic
rubber and - since they had lost
their plantations due to Japan’s
entry into war - they built up huge
production capacities of 840,000 t
until 1945. The rubber industry
strongly depends on the availability
of petroleum. About 70% of theworld requirements are
manufactured synthetically.There are about 20 different typesof synthetic rubber, many of them
with special properties. Just as
natural rubber, they consist of
long molecule industrial chains creating
a convoluted network. For
vulcanization, the chains are
provided with cross-links. Classical
example is the sulfur vulcanization
of natural rubber. The number of
cross-links determines the
properties of rubber: soft rubber
with a few links, hard rubber with
many links. Synthetic rubber Rubbers When the Spanish conquerorscame to Mexico and South America
in the beginning of the 16th century,
they professional saw Indians playing with a
strange bouncing ball. The Indians
called the material of the ball « Ca
hu chu » (crying tree). Today we call
this Latex-tree Hervea brasiliensis.More than 200 years later, rubberwas used in Europe as well. In
1770, the English mechanician
Priestley was credited with the
discovery of the use of rubber as
an eraser.Finally, in the 19th century, peoplediscovered the precious properties
of rubber: its waterproofness and
elasticity. Rubber mixed with
turpentine oil was used to
manufacture bags, hot-water bags
and life buoys. In 1824, the first
braces and suspenders were
manufactured. The rain coats that
were available at that time were
hard as stone in winter and sticky
in the summer.In 1844, Charles Goodyearpatented his decisive discovery.
For many years he had been
experimenting with rubber. One
day, some rubber mixed with sulfur
dropped onto a hot stove. During
carbonization, the grey, raw rubber
turned into a smooth and solid
material with good properties.
That was how Goodyear discovered
vulcanization.
At that time, the demand for rubber
was exclusively covered by supplies
from the Brazilian rain forest. Brazil
held the monopoly and suspiciously
watched that no seeds of the tree
were taken to other countries. In
1876, the adventurer Sir Wickham
smuggled rubber seeds to London.
The resultant seedlings were sent
to India where they could be
planted on English plantations. In
1880, Asian rubber was sold on theworld market for the first time.
Today, the world economy gets 3.5
million tons a year from the
plantations of different countries
from all over the world. Overview of rubber ShortDesignationApplication signexamples NRNatural RubberMed. professional gloves, latex, blending component for synthetic rubber SBRStyrene Butadiene RubberAll-purpose rubber, (originally ”Buna – S“)tire industry CRPolychloropren RubberContact professional adhesives, industrial conveyor belts, sealings, industrial hoses IIRIsobutene-IsopreneSealings, membranes, (Butyl) Rubbercable insulations EPDMEthylene-Propylene-Roof and pond foils, Diene Monomersealings in automotive industry NBRNitrile ButadieneOil and fuel resistant sealings, Rubbermembranes, hoses SI/MQ/Silicone RubberSealings for professional freezers, stoves, PMQ/window and cabin sealings VMQof airplanes. FPMFluorocarbon RubberSealings, molded parts, hoses with a high temperature and chemical resistance, belts PURPolyurethaneFoams 6
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