Rubber is mainly divided into two major categories, which is the starting point for understanding the entire industry:
Natural rubber
Source: Collected from the latex of rubber trees (such as the Brazilian three-leaf rubber tree), then coagulated and dried.
Features: Good overall performance, high elasticity, high strength, tear resistance, and excellent processing performance. However, its output is greatly affected by climate, geography (mainly produced in Southeast Asia), and pests and diseases, leading to significant price fluctuations.
The main forms are sheet rubber, standard rubber, etc.
synthetic rubber
The source is from petroleum, natural gas, coal and other raw materials, which are artificially synthesized through chemical polymerization reactions.
Features: Performance can be designed and adjusted specifically, with stable output and relatively controllable price. It is usually used to meet special requirements that natural rubber cannot fulfill.
Main varieties (in order of usage and importance):
Styrene-butadiene rubber: The synthetic rubber with the largest output, its comprehensive performance is close to that of natural rubber, and it is often used in tire treads.
Butadiene rubber: It has excellent elasticity and wear resistance, and is mainly used in tire treads and golf balls, etc.
Butyl rubber: It has excellent air tightness and is a key material for manufacturing inner tubes of tires and the air-tight layer of tubeless tires.
Ethylene propylene rubber: It has the best aging resistance, ozone resistance and weather resistance, and is used in automotive sealing strips, roof waterproofing membranes, etc.
Nitrile rubber: It has outstanding oil resistance and is used in oil seals, fuel tanks, oil pipes, etc.
Silicone rubber: Resistant to high and low temperatures (-60℃ to 250℃), with good biocompatibility, it is used in medical devices, baby pacifiers, and high-temperature seals.
Fluororubber, known as the "King of Rubbers", is resistant to high temperatures, oil and strong corrosion. It is used in high-end fields such as aerospace, automobiles and chemical engineering.
