POLYMER

NATURAL RUBBER

THEORY

STRUCTURE OF NATURAL RUBBER

It is polymer of isoprene (2 methyl 1,3-butanediene), the polymer
consisting over two thousand monomers linked together (C 5H8)n
where n stands for the number of monomers. It may be
represented as below.
CH3
CH3

-CH2-CH2-C=CH-CH2-CH2-C=CH-CH2-CH2-

It can exist in Cis & Trans forms. Natural rubber is Cis-1,4-poly

isoprene & gutta percha which is another form of natural rubber is
a trans isomer.
H3C

H3C
CH2-)-n
\
C=C

\
-(-H2C
H

C=C

\
-(-H2C
CH2-)-n

Cis polyisoprene

Trans polyisoprene

POLYMER

NATURAL RUBBER

THEORY

VULCANIZATION OF RUBBER
The process was carried out first by Goodyear in 1839 using
sulphur for effecting cross-linking of poly-isoprene molecules of
natural rubber.
Vulcanization process is important to improve the properties of
crude or raw rubber; it is compounded with some chemicals like
sulphur, hydrogen sulphide, benzoyl chloride, etc. It is a process
of cross-linking the rubber molecules using a vulcanizing agent.
The process consists of heating the crude rubber with sulphur to a
high temperature. The sulphur combines chemically at the double
bonds in the rubber molecule of different rubber springs.
Vulcanization brings about a stiffening of the rubber by a sort of
cross-linked & consequently preventing intermolecular movement
or sliding of rubber springs. The extent of stiffness or loss of
elasticity of vulcanized rubber depends on the amount of sulphur
added. Addition of 0.5 to 5% sulphur gives soft & elastic rubber
where as vulcanite or ebonite (hard rubber) contains 52% sulphur.
Thus vulcanite is tough, has abrasion resistance, can be sawn,
drilled & polished. It has extremely good electrical insulation
properties.

CH3

-CH2-C=CH-CH2-

CH3

-CH2 C CH- CH2 Vulcanization

+
+ 4S -----------------
S
S
0
140-150 C

-CH2-C=CH-CH2
-CH2 C CH CH2

CH3
CH3
Raw rubber
Vulcanized rubber
2

POLYMER

NATURAL RUBBER

THEORY