Product Description
High grade rubber compound refers to a mixture of rubber with various additives that enhance its properties for specific applications. Natural rubber or synthetic rubber polymers are typically mixed with additives such as vulcanizing agents, fillers, plasticizers, antioxidants, accelerators, and colorants to achieve desired characteristics like strength, flexibility, durability, and resistance to heat, chemicals, and abrasion.
The process of mixing these ingredients is called compounding, and it's often done in specialized equipment like internal mixers or two-roll mills. The choice and proportion of additives can vary depending on the intended use of the rubber product. For example, tires require a different compound than rubber seals or industrial belts.
After compounding, the rubber compound is typically processed further through shaping processes like extrusion, molding, or calendering to form the final product. Then, it undergoes curing or vulcanization, where it's heated to cross-link the polymer chains and give the rubber its final properties.
Rubber compounds are used in a wide range of applications across industries including automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, medical, and more.