4 Differences Between Natural and Synthetic Rubber
Synthetic rubber is a compound manufactured by blending natural rubber with various synthetic polymers. Synthetic rubber, also called an elastomer, is produced using chemical reactions and physical processes. We can synthesize or manufacture synthetic rubber from natural rubbers using scientific methods and industrial tools. However, there are many differences between them, due to which synthetic rubbers are mostly preferred over natural ones.
Natural rubber is harvested from plants that can produce this substance, and the harvesting process is considered sustainable. On the other hand, synthetic rubber is manufactured in a lab using chemical processes.
If you are planning to purchase synthetic and natural rubber, then you need to know how they differ. Natural rubber and synthetic rubber are synthetic products created from petroleum, but they're made differently.
Synthetic rubbers are almost the same as natural rubbers manufactured from artificial sources. Natural rubber has a significant drawback because cannot toughen it through compounding or cold flow. Its abrasion resistance, tear strength, and elongation property is poor. On the contrary, the most widely used synthetic rubber, i.e., SBR resins, can be compounded to strengthen its tear and elongation properties. It is obtained by condensation polymerization of butadiene with formaldehyde.
Synthetic rubber is not a kind of rubber at all. Rubbers are synthetic when made artificially, but natural rubbers are made directly from plants.
4 Distinctions Between Natural And Synthetic Rubber:
Natural rubber is produced from latex, a milky liquid extracted from the rubber tree. Synthetic rubber is made from chemicals called monomers, which are derived from petroleum or coal.
The main differences between natural and synthetic rubber are their physical properties, chemical makeup, and production methods.
1. Physical Properties:
Natural rubber has better mechanical properties than synthetic rubber. It's also more durable and less brittle than its artificial counterpart.
That means natural rubber has more excellent resistance to tearing and abrasion than synthetic rubber. However, synthetic latex is more resistant to heat than natural latex, making it better for use in high-temperature environments like in tires and on hoses of high-pressure washers.
2. Chemical Composition:
Natural rubber contains over 100 different compounds, while synthetic latex has fewer than 20 components that give it unique properties. The most common monomer used to create synthetic latex is styrene-butadiene (SBR), which accounts for 70% of the total global capacity for synthetic rubber production. Other monomers include butadiene, isoprene, and chloroprene (CR).
3. Durability:
Synthetic rubbers tend to be more durable than natural ones because they have excellent resistance to tearing and cracking under stress or pressure. Natural rubbers can crack when subjected to extreme heat or cold temperatures or during storage over long periods, while synthetic rubbers are more stable at high temperatures and low temperatures alike.
4. Melting Point:
The melting point of a material is the temperature at which it changes from a solid to a liquid state. The higher the melting point, the more durable the material will be during processing, transportation, and storage. The natural rubber has a higher melting point than synthetic rubber because its molecules are larger and more complex than those found in synthetic materials. However, this doesn't mean one type of rubber is better than another; it just means they're used for different purposes.