Submitted by :-

Harsh Nagar
NIT Kurukshetra
 Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc,
as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic
compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other
organic compounds, plus water. Forms of polyisoprene that
are used as natural rubbers are classified as elastomers.
Rubber is harvested mainly in the form of the latex from
the rubber tree or others. The latex is a sticky,
milky colloid drawn off by making incisions in the bark
and collecting the fluid in vessels in a process called
"tapping".
The major commercial source of natural rubber latex is the
Par rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).
 What is Rubber?
The unique property of rubber is that it is elastic.
When rubber is stretched, the molecular bonds can be
extended out. When released, the molecules coil back
to their original shape
In its raw state rubber consists of long randomly
kinked hydrocarbon chains which can slide past each
other. Raw rubber is therefore plastic, weak and
permanently deformable. The purpose of
vulcanization (also called curing) is to chemically link
the rubber chains together by "crosslinks" to form a
three-dimensional network.
 Rubber Compounding
A rubber compound could be a combination of 3 to 15
different ingredients of thousands of different
compositions and vendors.
A typical rubber formation based on parts per
hundred is:
Polymer - 100 phr
Filler - 30 60 phr
Antioxidant - 1 3 phr
Antiozonants - 1 3 phr
Oil - 5 30 phr
Cure - 5 10 phr
 Polymers:
The most important ingredient in a rubber
compound, polymers give the bases for
chemical, physical and molding properties. An
example for a Nitrile (Buna-N) compound is
the amount of Acrylonitrile (ACN). The higher
the ACN, the more oil resistance. These
polymers are then sold with varying ACN
content.
Filler:
Carbon Black is one of the most common
fillers. This gives the rubber compound
physical strength and its black color. There are
various particle sizes and surface activities.
Changing the particle size can increase physical
properties while also increasing compression
set.
 Antioxidant:
Antioxidants help protect the compound
from high temperature while in use and
while the compound is being mixed. These
ingredients can absorb free radicals that can
break the polymers bonds and reduce
service life of the compound
Antiozonants:
The most common antiozonant is wax, used
to bloom out on the surface after molding to
protect the rubber from ozone attack. A
common example can be seen when
purchasing new tires. The surface of a new
tire will have a wax feel or show a slight
haze.
 Oil (processing aids):
Various oils are used to help incorporate all
the dry ingredients used in the rubber
compounding. They also help to reduce the
viscosity of the overall compound to help
with molding. Adding more oil can also
lower the hardness of the rubber.
Cures:
Sulfur is the most common curative for
rubber compounds. Rubber polymers are just
entangled hydrocarbon chains than wont
hold shape. Back in 1839, Goodyear
discovered that rubber chains can be bonded
together by heating the rubber with sulfur,
called vulcanization.
 Rubber Compounding
NATURAL RUBBER
The raw material to make natural rubber actually does come from
trees
Produces compounds with high tensile strength, tear strength, tear
and abrasion resistance
Can be used at lower temperatures, low compression set, and high
resilience
Not recommended for severe applications with oil and solvent
exposure; subject to aging by sun, ozone, and heat
Also not good for applications in contact with concentrated acids or
alkal
NEOPRENE (CHLOROPRENE)
Good general purpose rubber with properties close to natural
rubber, but is synthetically produced
Better resistance to oils and solvents compared to natural rubber but
similar low compression set
Can be compounded for flame resistance
Good weathering resistance
Poorer low temperature performance compared to natural rubber
Not good in applications with concentrated acids or alkalis
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 275F
 Rubber Compounding
NITRILE (BUNA)
Much better oil and solvent resistance compared to either natural
rubber or Neoprene
Recommended for most oil field applications
Can be formulated for use at low temperatures
Good compression set and abrasion resistance, but poor weathering
resistance
Can be used with concentrated acids and alkalis but there are better
alternatives
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 275F
HNBR (HYDROGENATED NITRILE)
Similar to Nitrile but with improvements in heat and ozone resistance
Can be formulated for low temperature applications
Excellent for oil field service
Usually not recommended in applications with concentrated acids or
alkalis
Very high cost
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 350F
 Rubber Compounding
STYRENE BUTADIENE (SBR)
Originally developed as a low cost substitute for natural
rubber
Good water resistance and abrasion resistance
Poor weathering resistance, but can overcome with specific
raw materials
Not recommended for contact with oils and solvents
Not used with concentrated acids or alkalis
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 225F
BUTYL
Very good resistance to most gases including air
highly resistant to ozone and weathering
Abrasion resistance close to natural rubber and good for
concentrated acids and alkalis
Not recommended for petroleum product exposure
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 300F
 Rubber Compounding
EPDM
Exceptional resistance to weathering and ozone
Excellent resistance to water, most gases, steam, and heat
aging
Good for exposure to concentrated acids and alkalies, but not
recommended for exposure to oils and solvents
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 350F
FKM (VITON)
High cost, but high performance material
Outstanding resistance to most chemicals, oils and solvents
Good oxidation and ozone resistance
Maximum continuous operating temperature is about 650F
"Viton" is a trademark of DuPont and signifies material
produced by DuPont
Types of Natural Rubber Available
in Market
RSS-2 RSS-3 RSS-5
RSS-1 RSS-1
RSS-2
RSS-3
RSS-4
RSS-5
ISNR-20
Latex(60% drc)
EBC-2X
Our focus would be mainly on RSS-4 because it is most
widely used in JCB
 RSS-4
Ribbed Smoked Sheets (RSS) are coagulated rubber
sheets processed from fresh field latex sourced from
well managed rubber plantations adopting modern
processing methods.
Grades of RSS 4 are generally used for the manufacture
of automobile tyres, re-treading materials and all other
general products.
RSS 4 are the preferred raw material for radial tyres.
Domestically produced RSS rubber grades are in good
demand for tyres.
 RSS-4
Medium size bark particles, bubbles,
translucent stains, slightly sticky and
slightly over smoked rubber are
permissible. Oxidized spots or
streaks, weak, heated, under-cured,
over-smoked, and burnt sheets are
not permissible. The rubber must be
dry, clean, strong, sound and free
from blemishes, blisters, sand, dirty
packing and all other foreign matter
other than specified above as
permissible.
 Price Variation of RSS-4 Year 2013
(in Rupees per 100 kg)
25000

20000 19177 18994

18313
17424
16879
16137 16274 16238 16331
15695 15600 15500
15000

10000

5000

Source : rubberboard.org.in Price Variation of RSS-4(Year 2013) All prices without any tax
 Price Variation of RSS-4 Year 2014
18000 (in Rupees per 100 kg)
16000 15269
14702 14802 14546
14380 14341 14115
14000 13250
12328 12327
11858 11982
12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

Source : rubberboard.org.in Price Variation of RSS-4(Year 2014) All prices without any tax
 Price Variation of RSS-4 Year 2015
16000 (in Rupees per 100 kg)
13744 13470
14000
13098
12745 12510 12537
12058
12000 11665 11410
11218 10954
10279
10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

Source : rubberboard.org.in Price Variation of RSS-4(Year 2015)

All prices without any tax
 Price Variation of RSS-4 Year 2016
16000 (in Rupees per 100 kg)
14177
13850
14000 13375 13370
13062 13076
12142 12214
12000 11692
10812
9780
10000 9355

8000

6000

4000

2000

Source : rubberboard.org.in Price Variation of RSS-4(Year 2016) All prices without any tax
 Price Variation of RSS-4 Year 2017
16500 (in Rupees per 100 kg)

16000

15500

15000

14500

14000

13500

Source : rubberboard.org.in Price Variation of RSS-4(Year 2017) All prices without any tax
 Price Variation of RSS-4 Yearwise
(in Rupees per 100 kg)
25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 All prices without any tax
 RSS-1
Oxidized spots or streaks, weak,
heated, under cured, over-
smoked, opaque and burnt sheets
are not permissible in this grade.
The rubber must be dry, clean,
strong, sound and evenly smoked,
and free from blemishes, specks,
resinous matter (rust), blisters,
sand, dirty packing and any other
foreign matter, except slight
specks. Small pinhead bubbles, if
scattered, will not be objected to.
 Price Variation of RSS-1 Yearwise
(in Rupees per 100 kg)
25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Bibliography
www.applerubber.com
www.rubberboard.org.in
www.indiannaturalrubber.com