Rubber Technologists Handbook

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Rubber Technologists Handbook （橡胶技术手册）

J. White S. De (RAPRA 2001)

From a materials point of view a rubber product is made from rubber and a host of other
/ N& a$ c4 i$ p# L+ S0 Madditives, 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
the rubber is unvulcanised and in the plastic state; shaping the rubber compound and/or
bonding 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
of rubber chosen and the additives used and their concentrations. The properties of the
, _5 I1 d# Y) |9 x2 Yrubber can be further manipulated by varying the processing steps or manufacturing
operations. The cost of a rubber product depends not only on the price of the raw materials
+ u  s4 i) c0 g( _but also on the efficiency of the processing operations. In the last few decades new materials
have emerged and manufacturing has become increasingly automated and more efficient.
This handbook aims to provide a basic foundation in rubber technology and to collate
1 B+ K9 y( |4 d' b! Kthe most recent developments in the form of chapters, written by experts in their respective
! f5 C  {: a$ B' Q& f6 ~3 h' N6 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
+ b0 h, M! ~  e$ {9 hareas. Materials Science students and researchers, designers and engineers should all
  C- K! L( Y2 Y1 u2 {4 l! ~find the handbook very helpful.
Fourteen chapters deal with natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers,
fillers, compounding additives, mixing, engineering design, testing, tyre technology,
automotive applications, footwear, rubbers in construction, durability of rubber products,
and rubber recycling. It is obvious that several important topics could not be
! a) Y, p; O8 M/ Z  M8 c- V: Taccommodated in the current volume and it is intended that a second volume of the
$ L: q& {) g, p8 z& ~handbook will be published by RAPRA Technology Ltd in the near future to extend the
coverage. 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
; g' W# p2 G7 T- `. ~0 v6 `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
were invaluable. We wish to commend all of the staff at RAPRA Technology Ltd who
) M  h- J/ D( ^2 }contributed to the excellent production of the handbook, especially Claire Griffiths and
Sandra Hall.