Introduction to Natural and Synthetic Rubbers

Acknowledgements -

Introduction -

Contents -

Part One- Natural Rubber -

1. THE STORY OF NATURAL RUBBER -

The early history -

The beginnings of the rubber industry -

Goodyear and vulcanization -

Plantation rubber -

2. THE NATURE OF NATURAL RUBBER -

The physical properties of natural rubber-

Tensile properties -

Dynamic properties -

Hardness -

Abrasion -

Electrical properties -

The chemistry of natural rubber -

Atoms and molecules -

The formula of natural rubber -

The elasticity of natural rubber -

Part Two-Synthetic Rubber -

3. HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO SYNTHETIC RUBBER -

The beginnings of synthetic rubber production -

Synthetic rubber in the First World War -

Progress between the wars -

The American contribution -

Developments after the Second World War -

4. THE MANUFACTURE OF GENERAL PURPOSE SYNTHETIC RUBBER -

Butadiene: Petroleum - Butadiene and cracking -

Styrene Production of the polymer: Emulsion polymerization -

The polymerization formula -

The synthetic rubber plant -

5. THE PROCESSING OF GENERAL PURPOSE SYNTHETIC RUBBER -

Processing machinery: The bale-cutting machine -

The mill -

The internal mixer -

The calendar -

The spreading machine -

The extruder Compounding: Plasticizers and softeners -

Tack -

Extenders -

Reclaimed rubber -

Fillers -

Colouring materials -

The ageing of rubber -

Antioxidants -

Vulcanization Accelerators -

Vulcanization activators -

Summary of compounding

6. SPECIAL PURPOSE RUBBERS -

Nitrile rubber -

Butyl rubber -

Neoprene -

Thiokol -

Silicone rubbers -

Polyurethanes -

Hard rubber -

7. THE MANUFACTURE OF RUBBER ARTICLES -

Mechanicals: Soles and heels -

Bathing caps -

Hot water bottles -

Extruded articles -

Wires and cables -

Hose: Plain hose -

Wrapped hose -

Moulded hose -

Armouring -

Belting: Conveyor belts -

Transmission belting -

Rubber balls: Gold balls -

Tyres: The cover -

The bead -

The casing -

The tread and sidewalls -

Cover building -

Vulcanizing the cover -

Inner tubes -

Goods from latex: Compounding latex -

Dipped goods -

Latex thread -

Latex foam -

Part Three-The Future of Rubber -

8. MODERN DEVELOPMENTS -

Polymerization: Condensation polymerization -

Addition polymerization -

Initiators -

The arrangement of atoms in a chain -

Synthetic natural rubber -

cis Polybutadiene -

Radiation and rubber: Polymerization -

Cross-linking -

Looking ahead -

Bibliography -

Glossary -

Index -

Plates -