Rubber is a kind of elastic material widely used in industry, automobile, medical equipment, consumer goods and other fields. According to its chemical structure, rubber can be divided into two categories: saturated rubber and unsaturated rubber. These two types of rubber have significant differences in chemical properties, processing characteristics, application fields and so on. In this paper, the characteristics of saturated and unsaturated rubber will be discussed in detail.
First, the characteristics of saturated rubber
Chemical structure
The molecular chain of saturated rubber does not contain double bonds (C=C), so it is called "saturated". This type of rubber mainly includes ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) and saturated styrene butadiene rubber.
Weather fastness
Because it does not contain double bonds, saturated rubber has excellent weather resistance. They are not susceptible to ultraviolet rays, ozone and high temperatures, showing excellent aging resistance.
Chemical resistance
Saturated rubber has good resistance to most chemicals, especially in corrosive environments. They are often used to make parts that require long-term exposure to chemicals.
Machining characteristics
Saturated rubber usually requires a higher vulcanization temperature and a longer vulcanization time during processing. Due to its slow vulcanization reaction, the processing technology is relatively complex.
Application field
Due to its excellent weather resistance and chemical resistance, saturated rubber is widely used in the automotive industry (such as seals, hoses), building materials (such as waterproof materials), wire and cable insulation layer and other fields.
Second, the characteristics of unsaturated rubber
Chemical structure
The molecular chains of unsaturated rubbers contain a large number of double bonds (C=C), which makes them more chemically active. Common unsaturated rubber includes natural rubber (NR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), neoprene rubber (CR) and so on.
Elasticity and strength
Unsaturated rubber usually has high elastic and tensile strength. Natural rubber is particularly known for its excellent elasticity and tensile strength and is one of the preferred materials for various rubber products.
Cure reaction
Due to the double bond in the molecular chain, unsaturated rubber can react quickly with the vulcanizing agent during the vulcanization process to form a cross-linked structure. This allows them to vulcanize faster during processing and is suitable for mass production.
Weather fastness
Compared with saturated rubber, unsaturated rubber has poor weather resistance. Exposed to ultraviolet light and ozone, they are prone to aging, resulting in reduced performance. Therefore, unsaturated rubber products usually need to add antioxidants and UV absorbers to improve their weather resistance.
Application field
Because of its excellent elasticity and strength, unsaturated rubber is widely used in tires, transmission belts, seals, rubber pipes and other fields. Natural rubber is a key material for manufacturing high performance tires, while styrene-butadiene rubber is commonly used as a raw material for industrial rubber products.
Iii. Summary
Saturated rubber and unsaturated rubber have their own unique characteristics, suitable for different application scenarios. Saturated rubber, with its excellent weather resistance and chemical resistance, is suitable for parts exposed to harsh environments for a long time; Unsaturated rubber, with its excellent elasticity and strength, is widely used in areas requiring high elastic materials. Understanding the characteristics of these two types of rubber helps to select the most suitable material in practical applications to meet specific performance requirements.
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