Elastomers and Rubber Compounding Materials: Manufacture, Properties and Applications

Elastomers form a special class of materials characterized by a unique combination of useful properties such as elasticity, flexibility, toughness and impermeability. The uses of elastomers include typical industrial and engineering applications such as seals, hoses, insulators and tyres, and special applications such as medical aids, various implants or artificial hearts. The properties of rubber products depend not only on the characteristics of elastomers, but also on the various additives and ingredients mixed into the basic elastomer to form a rubber compound. The selection of additives and their incorporation into the rubber to improve the properties of a basic elastomeric material is still based more on experience and art than on a rational or scientific approach. To help the rubber technologist to rationalize the very complex task of rubber compounding, this book surveys the properties of elastomers and particular groups of rubber compounding ingredients and chemicals. The reader will find fundamental information on the production, properties and application of all basic materials used for fomulating rubber compounds, i.e