synthetic rubber

Synthetic rubber is typically the product of natural gas and naphtha which is produced when refining petroleum.

Synthetic rubbers are petroleum based materials. It typically requires 120 to 200 GJ of energy to manufacture one tonne of synthetic rubber product.

A wide variety of synthetic rubber materials have been developed, each designed to impart specific performance characteristics to the product or manufacturing process.

The main types of synthetic rubber and some of their applications are:

SBR

Styrene Butadiene Rubber

tyre tread, footwear, asphalt modifiers, technical goods, adhesives

BR

Polybutadiene

footwear, technical goods, tyres

NBR

Nitrile Rubber

footwear, technical goods

EPDM

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer

Asphalt, technical goods, tyres, automotive sealing strips

IIR

Butyl Rubber

adhesives, technical goods, waterproofing, tyre impervious barrier

CR

Polychloroprene Rubber

asphalt modifiers, technical goods, hoses

VMQ

Silicone Rubber

seals, finger pads, medical applications

FVMQ

Fluorosilicone

Automotive, aerospace seals and valves

FKM

Fluoropolymers

high temperature, high chemical resistance seals, hoses and surfaces

FFK

Perfluoroelastomers

Ultra-high chemical resistance, thermal resistance seals and surfaces

In 2004, global production levels for synthetic rubber materials were reported to be nearly 11.97 million tonnes (figures from the International Rubber Study group IRSG). 

The consumption for the same period was reported as being nearly 11.85 million tonnes.