SBR Rubber
What is Synthetic Rubber?
Synthetic Rubber or Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) is a low-cost, versatile rubber material. Although it is non-oil resistant, it offers similar properties to natural rubber; however, it has superior wear, abrasion and water resistance properties. Furthermore, the price of synthetic rubber is far lower than the price of natural rubber.
Synthetic rubber also offers exceptional performance in extreme temperatures. However, it is not recommended for use in applications with exposure to strong acids, oils, greases, ozone, fats and most hydrocarbons.
Producing synthetic rubber involves various petroleum-based monomers. These monomers can be mixed in a variety of proportions to be copolymerized. As a result, it can create products with a wide range of physical, mechanical, and chemical characteristics. Monomers can either be produced pure or with additional impurities and additives during the design process.
Read below for advantages and properties of Synthetic rubber:
Advantages of Synthetic Rubber
- Low cost alternative to Natural Rubber
- Versatile application
- Low temperature flexibility
- Exceptional heat resistance
- Wide temperature range
- Comparable abrasion resistance to Natural Rubber
Properties of Synthetic Rubber
- ASTM D-2000 Classification AA (Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications)
- Chemical Definition: Synthetic Polyisoprene
- Abbreviations: SBR, IR
Processing
- Transfer Molding
- Injection Molding
- Compression Molding
Physical & Mechanical Properties
- Durometer: 30 – 95 Shore A
- Tensile Strength: 500 – 3,500 PSI
- Elongation (Range %): 300% – 900%
- Abrasion Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Adhesion to Metal: Excellent
- Adhesion to Rigid Materials: Excellent
- Compression Set: Excellent
- Flex Cracking Resistance: Excellent
- Impact Resistance Good – Excellent
- Resilience & Rebound: Excellent
- Tear Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Vibration Dampening: Good – Excellent
Chemical Resistance
- Dilute Acids: Fair – Excellent
- Concentrated Acids: Poor – Good
- Organic Acids (Dilute): Fair – Good
- Organic Acids (Concentrated): Good
- Inorganic Acids:Good
- Alcohols: Good – Excellent
- Aldehydes: Good
- Dilute Alkalies: Fair – Excellent
- Concentrated Alkalies: Fair – Good
- Amines: Poor – Fair
- Animal & Vegetable Oils: Poor – Good
- Non-Petroleum Brake Fluids: Good
- Diester Oils: Poor
- Alkyl Phosphate Esters: Poor
- Aryl Phosphate Esters: Poor
- Ethers: Poor
- Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Poor
- Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Poor
- Extended Fuel (Oxygenated): Poor
- Halogenated Solvents: Poor
- Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Poor
- Ketones: Fair – Good
- Lacquer Solvents: Poor
- LP Gases & Fuel Oils: Poor
- Mineral Oils: Poor
- Oil Resistance: Poor
- Aromatic Petroleum: Poor
- Non-Aromatic Petroleum: Poor
- Ammonia Refrigerant: Good
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons: R-12, R-13
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons with Oil: Poor
- Silicone Oil: Good
- Solvent Resistance: Poor
Thermal Properties
- Low Temperature Range: -20ºF – -70ºF
- Minimum for Continuous Use (Static): -60ºF
- Brittle Point: -80ºF
- High Temperature Range: +180ºF – +220ºF
- Maximum for Continuous Use (Static): +180ºF
Environmental Performance
- Colorability: Poor
- Flame Resistance: Fair – Good
- Gas Permeability: Fair – Good
- Odor: Good – Excellent
- Ozone Resistance: Poor
- Oxidation Resistance: Good
- Radiation Resistance: Fair – Good
- Steam Resistance: Good
- Sunlight Resistance: Poor – Fair
- Taste Retention: Fair – Good
- Weather Resistance: Poor – Fair
- Water Resistance: Excellent
Applications of Synthetic Rubber
- Drive Couplings
- Conveyor Belts
- Shoe Soles and Heels
- Adhesives
- Roll Coverings
- Car Tires
- Seals
- Gaskets
- Grommets
- SBR pads (Mining equipment)