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Rubber varieties (abbreviated symbols), chemical composition, performance characteristics, main uses: 1. Natural rubber (NR) is primarily composed of rubber hydrocarbons (polyisoprene), with small amounts of proteins, moisture, resin acids, sugars, and inorganic salts. It has high elasticity, high strength at fixed elongation, excellent tear resistance and electrical insulation properties, good wear and drought resistance, favorable processability, and is easy to bond with other materials; its overall performance is superior to that of most synthetic rubbers. The drawback is poor resistance to oxygen and ozone, as well as easy aging and deterioration ； It has poor oil and solvent resistance, as well as low resistance to acid and alkali corrosion ； Heat resistance is not high. Operating temperature range: approximately –60°C to +80°C. Production of tires, rubber shoes, rubber hoses, adhesive tapes, insulation layers and sheaths for wires and cables, as well as other general-purpose products. It is particularly suitable for manufacturing torsional vibration dampers, engine shock absorbers, machine mounts, rubber-metal suspension components, diaphragms, and molded products. 2. Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR): a copolymer of butadiene and styrene. Its performance is close to that of natural rubber; it is the most widely produced general-purpose synthetic rubber at present. It features superior wear resistance, aging resistance, and heat resistance compared to natural rubber, and its texture is also more uniform than that of natural rubber. The disadvantages are: low elasticity, and poor resistance to bending and tearing ； The processing properties are poor, especially the self-adhesion is weak and the strength of the raw rubber is low. Operating temperature range: approximately –50°C to +100°C. It is mainly used to replace natural rubber in the production of tires, rubber sheets, hoses, rubber shoes, and other general-purpose products. 3. Butadiene rubber (BR) is a rubber with a cis structure formed by the polymerization of butadiene. Advantages include excellent elasticity and wear resistance, good aging resistance, superior low-temperature performance, low heat generation under dynamic loads, and easy metal bonding. The disadvantages are low strength, poor tear resistance, as well as poor workability and self-adhesion. Operating temperature range: approximately –60°C to +100°C. It is generally used in combination with natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber, mainly for manufacturing tire treads, conveyor belts, and special cold-resistant products. 4. Isoprene rubber (IR) is a cis-structured rubber synthesized by the polymerization of isoprene monomers. Its chemical composition and three-dimensional structure are similar to those of natural rubber, and its properties are also very close to those of natural rubber; hence it is known as synthetic natural rubber. It possesses most of the advantages of natural rubber; it is resistant to aging. However, its elasticity and strength are slightly lower than those of natural rubber, its processability is poor, and its cost is higher. Operating temperature range: approximately –50°C to +100°C. It can be used as a substitute for natural rubber in the production of tires, rubber shoes, hoses, tapes, and other general-purpose products. 5. Chloroprene rubber (CR) is a polymer synthesized by the emulsion polymerization of chloroprene as a monomer. These rubber molecules contain chlorine atoms; as a result, compared to other common rubbers, they exhibit excellent resistance to oxidation and ozone, are non-flammable and can extinguish themselves once on fire. They are also resistant to oils, solvents, acids, and bases, as well as resistant to aging, and have good gas-tightness ； Its physical and mechanical properties are also better than those of natural rubber, so it can be used as a general-purpose rubber as well as a specialty rubber. The main disadvantages are poor cold resistance, high specific gravity and relatively high cost, poor electrical insulation, as well as tendency to stick during processing, burn easily, and stick to the mold. Furthermore, raw rubber has poor stability and is not easy to store. Operating temperature range: approximately –45°C to +100°C. It is mainly used to manufacture cable sheaths, as well as various protective covers and shields, that require high resistance to ozone and aging ； Oil-resistant and chemically resistant hoses, tapes, and chemical linings ； Flame-resistant rubber products for underground mining, as well as various molded products, seals, gaskets, adhesives, etc. The content is from Rubber Plant 6. Butyl rubber (IIR) is a copolymer of isobutylene and small amounts of isoprene or butadiene. Its main advantages are excellent airtightness, good resistance to ozone and aging, as well as high heat resistance; it can operate at temperatures below 130°C over the long term ； It can resist strong inorganic acids (such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid) as well as common organic solvents; it has excellent vibration absorption and damping properties, as well as very good electrical insulation. The disadvantages are poor elasticity, poor workability, slow vulcanization speed, as well as poor adhesiveness and oil resistance. Operating temperature range: approximately –40°C to +120°C. It is mainly used as inner tubes, water tanks, balloons, insulation layers for wires and cables, linings for chemical equipment and shock-absorbing products, heat-resistant conveyor belts, and heat- and aging-resistant adhesive tape products. 7. Nitrile rubber (NBR): a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile. It is characterized by particularly excellent resistance to gasoline and aliphatic hydrocarbon oils, second only to polysulfide rubber, acrylate rubber, and fluororubber, and outperforming other general-purpose rubbers. It has good heat resistance, as well as excellent airtightness, wear resistance, and water resistance, along with strong adhesion. The disadvantages are poor cold resistance and ozone resistance, low strength and elasticity, poor acid resistance, inadequate electrical insulation, and weak resistance to polar solvents. Operating temperature range: approximately –30°C to +100°C. It is mainly used to manufacture various oil-resistant products, such as hoses and sealing components. 8. Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR): a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile. It is obtained by fully or partially hydrogenating the double bonds in the butadiene of NBR. It is characterized by high mechanical strength and wear resistance; its heat resistance is better than that of NBR when cross-linked with peroxides, while its other properties are the same as those of nitrile rubber. The downside is the high price. Operating temperature range: approximately –30°C to +150°C. It is mainly used in oil-resistant and high-temperature resistant sealing products. 9. Ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM/EPDM) is a copolymer of ethylene and propylene, generally divided into diene ethylene-propylene rubber and terpolymer ethylene-propylene rubber. It features excellent resistance to ozone, ultraviolet rays, weathering, and aging, ranking first among general-purpose rubbers. It has excellent electrical insulation, chemical resistance, and impact resilience; it is resistant to acids and alkalis, has a low specific gravity, and can be used in high-fill formulations. It can withstand temperatures up to 150°C, and is resistant to polar solvents such as alcohols and esters; however, it is not resistant to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Its other physical and mechanical properties are slightly inferior to those of natural rubber but better than those of styrene-butadiene rubber. The downside is that its self-adhesion and inter-adhesion are very poor, making it difficult to bond. Operating temperature range: approximately –50°C to +150°C. It is mainly used as linings for chemical equipment, insulation for wires and cables, steam hoses, heat-resistant conveyor belts, rubber products for automobiles, and other industrial products. Please remember our website address: Rubber Garden. 10. Silicone rubber (Q) is a special type of rubber whose backbone contains silicon and oxygen atoms; these are the **key elements** at play in it. Its main feature is that it is resistant to both high temperatures (up to 300°C) and low temperatures (down to –100°C), making it the best rubber currently available for withstanding extreme cold and high temperatures ； It also has excellent electrical insulation properties, high stability against thermal oxidation and ozone, and is highly chemically inert. The disadvantages are low mechanical strength, poor resistance to oils, solvents, and acids and alkalis, difficulty in vulcanization, and high cost. Operating temperature: –60°C to +200°C. It is mainly used to manufacture products resistant to high and low temperatures (such as hoses and seals), as well as insulating layers for high-temperature wires and cables. Due to its non-toxic and odorless nature, it is also used in the food and medical industries. 11. Fluororubber (FPM) is an organic elastomer synthesized by copolymerizing fluorine-containing monomers. Its features include a high temperature resistance of up to 300°C, resistance to acids and alkalis, the best oil resistance among oil-resistant rubbers, as well as good radiation resistance and high-vacuum tolerance ； It exhibits excellent electrical insulation, mechanical properties, chemical resistance, ozone resistance, and resistance to atmospheric aging. The disadvantages are poor workability, high cost, poor cold resistance, and low elasticity and breathability. Operating temperature range: –20°C to +200°C. It is mainly used in the defense industry for manufacturing vacuum-resistant, high-temperature-resistant, and chemically resistant sealing materials, hoses, or other components for aircraft and rockets, as well as in the automotive industry. The content is from Rubber Plant 12. Polyurethane rubber (AU\EU) is an elastomer formed by the polymerization of polyesters (or polyethers) with diisocyanate compounds. It is characterized by good wear resistance, and it is the best among various types of rubber ； High strength, good elasticity, and excellent oil resistance. It also has excellent resistance to ozone, aging, and air leakage. The disadvantages are poor temperature resistance, weak water and alkali resistance, as well as poor resistance to solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and esters and alcohols. Operating temperature range: approximately –30°C to +80°C. Tires are made from components, washers, shock-absorbing materials, as well as rubber products that are wear-resistant, high-strength, and oil-resistant. 13. Acrylate rubber (ACM/AEM): It is a polymer of ethyl acrylate or butyl acrylate. It is characterized by good heat and oil resistance, as well as stable performance in lubricating oils containing sulfur, phosphorus, and chlorine additives. It also boasts excellent aging resistance, resistance to oxygen and ozone, UV resistance, and airtightness. The disadvantages are poor cold resistance, susceptibility to water, as well as resistance to steam and organic and inorganic acids and bases. Severe swelling occurs in water-soluble solutions such as methanol, ethylene glycol, and their esters. At the same time, it has poor elasticity and wear resistance, poor electrical insulation, and poor workability. Operating temperature range: approximately –25°C to +150°C. It can be used to manufacture oil-resistant, heat-resistant, and aging-resistant products, such as seals, hoses, and chemical linings. 14. Chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber (CSM) is an elastic polymer obtained by chlorinating and sulfonating polyethylene. It has excellent ozone resistance as well as good aging resistance, and its weather resistance is superior to that of other rubbers. It has good flame retardancy, heat resistance, solvent resistance, as well as resistance to most chemicals and acids and bases. Its electrical insulation properties are satisfactory, and its wear resistance is similar to that of styrene-butadiene rubber. The disadvantages are poor tear resistance and poor workability. Operating temperature range: approximately –20°C to +120°C. It can be used as a sealing material for ozone generators, to manufacture oil-resistant seals, wire and cable insulation, as well as oil-resistant rubber products and chemical linings. 15. Chloroether rubber (CO\ECO) is a polymer formed by the homopolymerization of epichlorohydrin or by the copolymerization of epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide. Its features include resistance to aliphatic and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, alkali resistance, water resistance, excellent aging resistance, ozone resistance, weather resistance, high heat resistance, and high airtightness. The disadvantages are low strength, poor elasticity, and poor electrical insulation. Operating temperature range: approximately –40°C to +140°C. It can be used for hoses, seals, films, and container linings, fuel tanks, rubber rollers, as well as in the manufacture of oil seals and water seals. 16. Chlorinated polyethylene rubber (CM or CPE) is an elastic polymer made from polyethylene through a chlorination reaction. Its performance is similar to that of chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber; it features good fluidity and is easy to process ； It has excellent weather resistance, ozone resistance, and corona resistance, as well as good heat resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and oil resistance. The disadvantages are poor elasticity, significant compression deformation, and low electrical insulation. Operating temperature range: approximately –20°C to +120°C. Electrical wire and cable sheaths, hoses, tapes, rubber rollers, chemical linings, etc.