As we know Natural and synthetic rubbers are essentially two halves of the same whole. But each half brings properties, advantages and uses unique to that type of rubber.
Let’s start with an in-depth look at both options.
WHAT IS NATURAL RUBBER?
Natural rubber is a rubber material found in nature. It is produced by tapping trees, similar to maple syrup, not by processing oil. Over 2,500 different kinds of trees produce latex, but the most common is the aptly named rubber tree. Latex emerges from the tree in a thick, milky sap which is then processed. Processing typically involves removing excess water and leaving the natural rubber in smokehouses or outdoors to air dry. It is then placed into bales and shipped to manufacturers.
Natural rubber dates back thousands of years to civilizations like the Inca, who would use rubber to make balls for ancient sports. Back then, the biggest downside to natural rubber is that it would start to melt or get sticky when the temperature got too warm. It wasn’t until 1839 that Charles Goodyear accidentally dropped rubber on a hot stove, then went on to patent the process of vulcanization to better stabilize natural rubber and keep it intact.
USES FOR NATURAL RUBBER
Natural rubber is used as a raw material in a wide variety of over 10,000 consumer products. Applications include:
o Tires for cars and aircraft
o Surgical gloves
o Rubber bands
o Medical devices
o Clothes
o Motor mounts
o Pacifiers and children’s toys
o Balloons
WHAT IS SYNTHETIC RUBBER?
Synthetic rubber, simply put, is any type of rubber that cannot be classified as natural rubbers. Synthetic rubbers are produced artificially by creating polymers via solution polymerisation or emulsion polymerisation.
With so many different types of synthetic rubbers available on the market, it’s difficult to generalize them all as one category of rubber with similar properties. The common denominator is that they are all byproducts of oil. But the diversity in synthetic rubbers means many different types are produced using different formulas, and each type has different properties designed to suit different applications.
About SYNTHETIC RUBBER
Synthetic rubber, simply put, is any type of rubber that cannot be classified as natural rubbers. Synthetic rubbers are produced artificially by creating polymers via solution polymerisation or emulsion polymerisation.
With so many different types of synthetic rubbers available on the market, it’s difficult to generalize them all as one category of rubber with similar properties. The common denominator is that they are all byproducts of oil. But the diversity in synthetic rubbers means many different types are produced using different formulas, and each type has different properties designed to suit different applications.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SYNTHETIC RUBBER?
o EPDM
o Butyl
o Viton®
o Neoprene
o Nitrile
o Silicone
o And more
USES FOR SYNTHETIC RUBBER
Synthetic rubbers have a wide variety of uses, and can be found in almost every conceivable rubber application, especially considering some people are allergic to latex and require synthetic alternatives to natural rubber products. Applications include:
o Wetsuits
o PPE
o Shoe soles
o Gaskets & seals
o O-rings
SHOULD NATURAL RUBBER OR SYNTHETIC RUBBER BE USED
Like many things in the rubber industry, it depends. Though they may seem like the only two options in the umbrella of rubber types, one look at the different properties of each type of rubber shows that comparing natural and synthetic rubber is not always simple.
Both natural and synthetic rubbers can be great insulators, non-reactive and work well as adhesives or coatings. However, which one to use depends entirely on your application and the type of natural or synthetic rubber that will work best.
One of our favorite metaphors is comparing natural and synthetic rubber to sports shoes. There’s no one sneaker perfect for every sport. Track shoes are best for gripping the track, basketball shoes are good for running the court and soccer cleats are great for getting a grip in unstable turf. In the same way, there’s no one best type of rubber for every application. Each type has its own advantages and drawbacks.
That being said, it is possible, and not at all uncommon, to combine natural rubber with some synthetic rubbers in formulas that can take advantage of multiple characteristics.