Rubber Technologists Handbook

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Rubber Technologists Handbook （橡胶技术手册）
" d' ?- m7 G- {8 A" D8 q$ j& e
J. White S. De (RAPRA 2001)

4 U- d1 |# x( d9 ?: O7 aFrom a materials point of view a rubber product is made from rubber and a host of other
additives, including fillers, vulcanising agents and processing aids along with reinforcing
materials such as textiles. From a manufacturing point of view, a rubber product is made
by following several steps: mixing of additives with the rubber (‘compounding’) when
& s9 m% N' P) i6 k1 S( Ethe rubber is unvulcanised and in the plastic state; shaping the rubber compound and/or
& q. [( c# {; n: e  W7 b$ l. {* xbonding it to a substrate; and finally vulcanising or curing the whole assembly, when
chemical crosslinks are formed between the rubber molecules to give the material its
‘elastic’ recovery behaviour. The final properties of a rubber product depend on the type
7 t6 M( a/ S, m: c" |of rubber chosen and the additives used and their concentrations. The properties of the
+ T. E0 O, I, b9 Yrubber can be further manipulated by varying the processing steps or manufacturing
; u1 R- R" J7 \operations. The cost of a rubber product depends not only on the price of the raw materials
but also on the efficiency of the processing operations. In the last few decades new materials
* @2 f; C0 P: M2 d8 ?have emerged and manufacturing has become increasingly automated and more efficient.
; O4 }% K+ B; T: FThis handbook aims to provide a basic foundation in rubber technology and to collate
the most recent developments in the form of chapters, written by experts in their respective
+ [! [) }5 V4 zfields. The handbook is intended to serve the needs of those who are already in the
rubber industry and of new entrants who aspire to build a career in rubber and allied
areas. Materials Science students and researchers, designers and engineers should all
1 H  a, N" x# zfind the handbook very helpful.
* c4 M9 e" G/ K  ~+ G8 Q3 hFourteen chapters deal with natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers,
: X: b: a) c8 z  Q' X% [8 p5 X# Ifillers, compounding additives, mixing, engineering design, testing, tyre technology,
automotive applications, footwear, rubbers in construction, durability of rubber products,
( w% y# n% F/ w0 I: `( s1 L& i7 I3 R6 N) fand rubber recycling. It is obvious that several important topics could not be
) G# t6 {  J' ]5 y5 u" N+ Vaccommodated in the current volume and it is intended that a second volume of the
3 {/ s( [: i2 N. Mhandbook will be published by RAPRA Technology Ltd in the near future to extend the
1 r) b4 e( R3 B) mcoverage. We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation from all of the contributors, without
whom this handbook would not have been a reality. We are especially grateful to the
commissioning editor, Ms Frances Powers, for her unique combination of professionalism
and good humour: her prompt and pointed responses to all of our requests for assistance
0 P% K( S' A7 ]5 A4 D2 M0 n" r8 Uwere invaluable. We wish to commend all of the staff at RAPRA Technology Ltd who
5 M7 s: e! k+ {' t, \8 F% acontributed to the excellent production of the handbook, especially Claire Griffiths and
, p2 F. U* s! t9 S4 F7 gSandra Hall.