Today, synthetic polymers occupy a very important position in the life of all mankind. They are used in various areas of our daily lives: from clothing, dishes, toys to airplanes, rockets, cars. And one of the most interesting and indispensable in a number of unique properties is synthetic rubber. The formula of a natural analogue has a regular structure, while a synthetic one has an irregular structure.
To produce polymers of this type on an industrial scale began shortly before the Second World War in Germany and Russia. Sodium butadiene rubber "Buna" was produced in Germany. And in Russia, polybutadiene was the first to be produced on an industrial scale. It was produced by the method of anionic polymerization of liquid butadiene, developed by S. Lebedev.
After the war, due to the lack of a natural product, a synthetic variety was also produced in the United States. From that time to the present day, the production of various materials, based on which synthetic rubber, as well as all rubber products, belongs to large-capacity production. Automotive, astronautics and aviation, mechanical engineering, construction, electrical engineering, medicine, the shoe industry, consumer goods - none of these industries can not exist without this unique polymer. Such widespread use is due to a complex of unique physical and mechanical characteristics of various types of rubber and rubber based on them.
Synthetic rubber is an elastomer that is characterized by elasticity, water resistance and electrical insulation properties. Using the vulcanization process, polymers of this type are able to be processed into rubber and hard rubber.
All polymeric materials of this class are divided according to their application into rubbers of special and general purpose. Synthetic rubber for general use is one that is characterized by a set of high-tech properties (elasticity, strength, wear resistance, etc.). General-purpose rubbers are successfully used for a wide range of mass-produced products, mainly for automobile tires. These include butadiene, butadiene-methylstyrene, isoprene rubbers, as well as the isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl rubber).
Synthetic rubber for special purposes always has several or one unique property, which fully provides special requirements for the performance of the product in extreme conditions. For example, nitrile butadiene
known for its high oil and gas resistance. Fluorinated ones are excellent sealants and sealants with increased heat resistance (over 200 ° C). Also known are polysulfide synthetic rubber, vinyl pyridine, urethanes, halogenated isobutylene, and others.
Despite such a variety of types of polymeric materials in structure and properties, to date, development continues in this area so that it is possible to satisfy the ever-growing demands of different consumers in various fields of activity.