Read Everything About Rubber Products & Industry
Industrial rubber products are in high demand across various industrial uses, including mining, paper manufacturing, power generation, agriculture, and transportation. Since a very long time ago, rubber has been utilised to create a massive variety of things. Numerous different polymers are referred to as rubber. These polymers are elastomers, which can be extended out and snap back into place when released. The original rubber was a natural material from the Central American hevea tree's sap. Even though science has advanced and new types of rubber have been created by combining natural rubber with other compounds with unique features, we still utilise natural rubber today. The composite material "inspired" by natural rubber is known as synthetic rubber.
Natural rubber is produced by India's rubber plantations in about 630 million tonnes a year, with an output of above 1 million tonnes soon anticipated. This has facilitated the drastic and quick rise of the Indian rubber sector. This growth potential is fueled by a boom in the car industry, improved living standards for most people, and rapid industrialisation. India uses about 800 grams of rubber per person, as opposed to 12 to 14 kg in Japan, the US, and Europe. India is still far from using rubber products to their full potential. This is another factor indicating the industry's significant growth possibilities.
Applications and Types of Industrial Rubber Sheets
Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)
SBR is a fantastic all-purpose rubber that may be used in various applications. While it shares many of the same characteristics as natural rubber, it is more water, wear, and abrasion resistant. It is an inexpensive substance that works well to make watertight rubber gaskets, seals, and tubing. SBR is resistant to light chemicals and has high thermal stability and heat-ageing properties; nevertheless, it is not advised to use SBR in applications containing solid acids, lubricants, lubricating oils, fats, and ozone. SBR with an incorporated textile reinforcement is offered for improved compressive properties and tear resistance.
EPDM Rubber
Rubber called Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) has exceptional resistance to ozone, oxidants, and adverse weather. Because of these qualities, it is perfect for diverse environmental applications and regular outdoor use. It is ideal for various applications, including waterproofing, insulating, sealing roofing, and electrical cable jointing. It won't fracture or turn colour when UV or ozone rays are exposed. It is also widely used in industrial settings for gaskets and seals.
Nitrile Rubber (NBR)
One of the synthetic rubbers most often utilised worldwide is nitrile rubber. It is perfect for usage in locations where both natural and manufactured greases are prevalent because of its exceptional resilience to lubricants, fuels, petroleum, and most solvents. Additionally, it offers strong resistance to heat, water, gas, abrasion, and other elements. Due to its high resilience, nitrile rubber is an exceptionally versatile material that finds widespread use in the oil and gas, food processing, and automotive industries. Pads, seals, and gaskets are examples of potential benefits.
Chloroprene Rubber (Neoprene Rubber)
Neoprene rubber, sometimes called chloroprene rubber, is a versatile all-purpose material with an excellent balance of qualities. It offers resistance to diluted acids, alkalis, mineral oils, greases, and acids. Neoprene is a material that works well outside, thanks to its exceptional ageing and weathering characteristics. While neoprene is frequently used for gaskets, hoses, and industrial seals, it is also widely utilised in professional kitchens and for maritime uses, including the production of wetsuits. Neoprene is a well-liked material for protection against liquids, chemicals, extreme temperatures, and ultraviolet radiation because of its solid all-around characteristics.
Natural Rubber
The sap of rubber trees is used to create natural rubber. Although it has a high tear strength and outstanding resilience and is incredibly flexible and robust, it should not be subjected to oils, solvents, or ozone. Shock absorbers, gaskets, sealants, hoses, and tubing are examples of applications. It is also ideal when used as protective shielding for shot blasting due to its exceptional abrasion resistance and wears.
Nitrile Rubber vs EPDM Rubber: Differences
An artificial synthetic elastomer, synthetic rubber has many uses in both industrial and home settings. Synthetic rubbers come in a variety of forms, each with unique qualities. These two widely utilised synthetic rubber compounds are EPDM Rubber & Nitrile Rubber. Both EPDM & Nitrile rubbers provide a good deal of flexibility and endurance, but they have different qualities, are resistant to different environments or media, and have other uses.
You may learn more about EPDM & Nitrile rubbers in this article, as well as how they vary from one another. You would be capable of making an educated decision during your selection process with the help of this information.
EPDM Rubber Characteristics
EPDM is an excellent option for outdoor applications because of its high durability and significant damage tolerance, heat, smoke, light, Ultraviolet radiation, moisture, and ozone. These attributes also give it a weatherproof quality. It also has excellent noise insulation and low electrical conductivity and is flexible and robust.
Without air, it may operate at freezing temperatures as -51°C and even as high as 150°C. However, most hydrocarbons, including petroleum, oils, gasoline, brominated solvents, and specific lubricants, are incompatible with EPDM.
The characteristics of EPDM rubbers that make them a commonly utilised synthetic material in the industry are their sturdiness, flexibility, and extended life in harsh situations.
Nitrile Rubber Characteristics
Nitrile's resistance to oils, vegetable oils, toluene and gasoline, petroleum-based goods, petroleum diesel, gasoline, solvents, dilute acids, and alkali is one of its most important benefits. The proportion of acrylonitrile in the rubber affects how much of it is resistant to oil. The resistance, strength, and permeability improve as acrylonitrile concentration increases. Less acrylonitrile means greater flexibility at cooler temperatures but less resistance.
Nitrile is resistant to abrasion, rip, and compression set and can function in temperatures between -40°C and 108°C. Compared to natural rubber, it delivers three times greater puncture resistance. However, nitrile also has disadvantages, including inadequate resistance to UV radiation, ozone, weathering, and prolonged outdoor exposure.
Industrial rubber products
Below mentioned are some types of Industrial rubber products
- Mountings that reduce vibration
- Rubber Products for Automobiles
- Scheduled Rubber Goods
- Rubber Extruded Products
- Rubber Medical Products
- Components with Metal Bonds
- Rubber Sealants & Adhesives
- Rubber Ball
- Rubber Bands
- Rubber Beading
Top Rubber Manufacturers in India
The list below gives a synopsis of the best rubber manufacturers in India.
Rubfila International Limited
A public limited company, Rubfila International Limited (RIL), is supported by Kerala State Development Authority and Rubpro Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia. The business produces the most extruded Spherical Latex Rubber Thread. The state-of-the-art infrastructure is situated at Kanjikode, Palakkad, Kerala's New Industrial Development Area.
PIX Transmissions Ltd.
PIX Transmissions Ltd is the top producer of belts and associated mechanical power transmission goods in India. The business operates cutting-edge Belt manufacturing facilities and a highly advanced, automated rubber mixing plant.
Sales totalled Rs. 304 Cr. With a solid local and international presence, PIX Transmissions Ltd. has a tremendous brand image in the electrical transmissions sector. In addition to having over 250 dedicated Channel Partners in more than 100 different countries worldwide, the firm also has abroad subsidiaries in Europe and the Middle East.
Indag Rubber Limited
A family-owned company with strong family values is Indag Rubber. People wishing to change the world and the places they live and work make up their clientele. This is an example of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The distributor of a variety of branded goods is Indag Rubber. Indian traders are the ones who purchase these goods. Employees in the company are motivated. The business adheres to the Indag Rubber Rules of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which emphasise being truthful and accountable while producing written content. Products are sold to persons they know or come across.
GRP Ltd
Established in 1974, GRP Ltd. is one of the most well-known producers of designed goods die-cut from discarded tyres and upscaled nylon from polyamide waste. With 8 manufacturing facilities spread across India, the company runs five business verticals with a generation capacity to manage 72,000 MT annually to serve the international polymer industry's needs and contribute to preserving precious resources for the environment.
Conclusion
The rubber business has grown to be a prominent one in India. India is anticipated to surpass China as the second-largest player in this market in a few years. A significant rubber products supplier in India, Kerala is where it is primarily produced, although North-East India sees an increase. Both organic and conventional rubbers work best together to provide completed rubber items with the appropriate final properties. In India, composite material makes up around 30% of all rubber use, compared to 65% globally. Consequently, the Indian government encourages the development of industries producing synthetic rubber. The whole nation's natural rubber supply may be used in the local market in India.
FAQs: Rubber
Q. Who is the largest rubber producer?
Ans. With an annual production of more than 4.3 million metric tonnes of rubber, Thailand has been the world's top producer and accounts for about 36% of all natural rubber produced globally.
Q. Which sector in India consumes the most rubber?
Ans. Small-scale factories produce over 50% of the rubber items produced in the non-tyre industry. The automotive industry, which uses natural rubber to make vehicle tyres, tubes, and other parts, is a significant user of both the tyre and non-tyre sectors.