Following is a list of terms relating to the manufacture of
polymers and their definitions. See sidebar for abbreviations for the most
common rubber polymer types.
Accelerator: Chemical added to increase curing
rate.
Acrylonitrile: Unsaturated
hydrocarbon containing nitrogen (CH
2 CHCN) Part of
nitrile rubber (NBR).
Activator: Chemical to activate
the curing reaction.
Antioxidant: Chemical to reduce
oxidation.
Antiozonants: Chemical to
reduce ozone cracking.
Bladder: Inflatable bladder,
used to form the tire in the mold during curing.
Blowing Agent: Chemical to make
sponge rubber, forming the cells by release of gas.
Butadiene: Unsaturated
hydrocarbon (CH
2 CHCHCH
2). Part
of butadiene rubber (BR).
Calender: Machine with two or
more rolls for making sheets.
Chloroprene: Base of
chloroprene rubber (CR)-containing chlorine.
Coagulate: A substance that is precipitated from a
liquid.
Copolymer: A polymer made of
two or more monomers.
Cord Fabric: Used as reinforcement
in rubber products like tires. Made of rayon, polyamide, polyester, etc.
Crazing: Small cracks on the
surface due to weather.
Emulsion: A heterogeneous
liquid with two or more substances dispersed in it.
Ethylene: Unsaturated
hydrocarbon (CH
2 CH
2). Part of
ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM or EPDM).
Extrusion: Process whereby
rubber is formed by pressing through a die, e.g., profiles.
Flash: Excess rubber created
during molding. Comes from overflow and injection feed system.
ISO 9000: Standardized
management system for quality.
ISO 14000: Standardized
management system for environmental assurance.
Isobutylene: Unsaturated
hydrocarbon (CH
3 C(CH
3)CH
2).
Part of butyl rubber (IIR).
Isoprene: Unsaturated
hydrocarbon (CH
2 C(CH
3)CHCH
2)
part of isoprene rubber (IR) and butyl rubber (IIR).
Kautschuk: Arising from the
Indian name
cahu-chu, meaning “the crying tree.”
Latex: The milky liquid in
plants like the rubber tree and dandelion. An emulsion of rubber particles in
water.
Monomer: Derived from Greek
word
mono, meaning one, and
meros
meaning part. Several monomers make a polymer.
Natural Rubber: Rubber
extracted from Hevea Brasiliensis.
Polymer: Derived from the Greek
word
poly meaning many and
meros
meaning part. A polymer consists of a long molecular chain made of equal units
(monomers).
Polymerization: Chemical
reaction where several molecules of the same type are united to produce a
bigger unit.
Propylene: Unsaturated
hydrocarbon (CH
2 CHCH
3). Part of
ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM and EPDM).
Prototype: A first model for
checking a new product.
Sandblasting: Cleaning a
surface by blowing sand particles.
Styrene: Aromatic hydrocarbon.
Part of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).
Sulfur
Bridge:
Bridging two rubber molecules with a sulfur bond.
Synthetic Rubber: Man-made
polymer.
UV Light: Invisible light with
high-energy content. Used for making a rubber surface glossy.
Viscosity: A property in
liquids and polymers that depends on inner friction. High viscosity means less
flow than in substances with low viscosity.
Vulcanization: Derived from Vulcan,
the mythological god of fire and smithery. Also called curing. When adding
sulfur to a rubber compound, the sulfur forms crosslinks between the polymer
chains, making the rubber elastic.
For more information, contact Trelleborg, phone 46 410 670 94, fax 46
410 427 63, or visit www.trelleborg.com.
