Elastomer

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An elastomer is a polymer with

viscoelasticity (i.e., both viscosity and
elasticity) and has very weak
intermolecular forces, generally low
Young's modulus and high failure strain
compared with other materials.[1] The
term, a portmanteau of elastic polymer,[2]
is often used interchangeably with rubber,
although the latter is preferred when
referring to vulcanisates.[3] Each of the
monomers which link to form the polymer
is usually a compound of several elements
among carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and
silicon. Elastomers are amorphous
polymers maintained above their glass
transition temperature, so that
considerable molecular reconformation,
without breaking of covalent bonds, is
feasible. At ambient temperatures, such
rubbers are thus relatively compliant (E ≈
3 MPa) and deformable. Their primary
uses are for seals, adhesives and molded
flexible parts. Application areas for
different types of rubber are manifold and
cover segments as diverse as tires, soles
for shoes, and damping and insulating
elements. The importance of these
rubbers can be judged from the fact that
global revenues are forecast to rise to
US$56 billion in 2020.[4][5]

IUPAC defines the term "elastomer" by

"Polymer that displays rubber-like
elasticity."[6]

Manufacturers of Elastomeric parts

include NoProto, PrintForm, 3D Systems,
and Afformativ.

Rubber-like solids with elastic properties

are called elastomers. Polymer chains are
held together in these materials by
relatively weak intermolecular bonds,
which permit the polymers to stretch in
response to macroscopic stresses.
Natural rubber, neoprene rubber, buna-s
and buna-n are all examples of such
elastomers.

(A) is an unstressed polymer; (B) is the same polymer

under stress. When the stress is removed, it will return
to the A configuration. (The dots represent cross-
links)

Elastomers are usually thermosets

(requiring vulcanization) but may also be
thermoplastic (see thermoplastic
elastomer). The long polymer chains
cross-link during curing, i.e., vulcanizing.
The molecular structure of elastomers can
be imagined as a 'spaghetti and meatball'
structure, with the meatballs signifying
cross-links. The elasticity is derived from
the ability of the long chains to reconfigure
themselves to distribute an applied stress.
The covalent cross-linkages ensure that
the elastomer will return to its original
configuration when the stress is removed.
As a result of this extreme flexibility,
elastomers can reversibly extend from 5–
700%, depending on the specific material.
Without the cross-linkages or with short,
uneasily reconfigured chains, the applied
stress would result in a permanent
deformation.

Temperature effects are also present in

the demonstrated elasticity of a polymer.
Elastomers that have cooled to a glassy or
crystalline phase will have less mobile
chains, and consequentially less elasticity,
than those manipulated at temperatures
higher than the glass transition
temperature of the polymer.

It is also possible for a polymer to exhibit

elasticity that is not due to covalent cross-
links, but instead for thermodynamic
reasons.

Examples
Unsaturated rubbers that can be cured by
sulfur vulcanization:

Natural polyisoprene: cis-1,4-

polyisoprene natural rubber (NR) and
trans-1,4-polyisoprene gutta-percha
Synthetic polyisoprene (IR for isoprene
rubber)
Polybutadiene (BR for butadiene rubber)
Chloroprene rubber (CR),
polychloroprene, Neoprene, Baypren etc.
Butyl rubber (copolymer of isobutylene
and isoprene, IIR)
Halogenated butyl rubbers (chloro
butyl rubber: CIIR; bromo butyl
rubber: BIIR)
Styrene-butadiene Rubber (copolymer of
styrene and butadiene, SBR)
Nitrile rubber (copolymer of butadiene
and acrylonitrile, NBR), also called Buna
N rubbers
 Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubbers
(HNBR) Therban and Zetpol

(Unsaturated rubbers can also be cured by

non-sulfur vulcanization if desired.)

Saturated rubbers that cannot be cured by

sulfur vulcanization:

EPM (ethylene propylene rubber, a

copolymer of ethylene and propylene)
and EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene
diene rubber, a terpolymer of ethylene,
propylene and a diene-component)
Epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO)
Polyacrylic rubber (ACM, ABR)
Silicone rubber (SI, Q, VMQ)
 Fluorosilicone Rubber (FVMQ)
Fluoroelastomers (FKM, and FEPM)
Viton, Tecnoflon, Fluorel, Aflas and Dai-
El
Perfluoroelastomers (FFKM) Tecnoflon
PFR, Kalrez, Chemraz, Perlast
Polyether block amides (PEBA)
Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM),
(Hypalon)
Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)

"The definitions are not authentic as the

Rubber which is classified in World
Customs Organisation Books in Chapter
40, where as the above definitions stating
all rubber and different polymers in same
chapter which is classified in Chapter 39
of the World Custom Organisation's
Harmonised Commodity for Description
and coding system. One should go
through all differentiation while editing
between Plastics and articles thereof and
Rubber and articles thereof."

Various other types of 4S elastomers:

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)

The proteins resilin and elastin
Polysulfide rubber
Elastolefin, elastic fiber used in fabric
production

See also
 Liquid Elastomer Molding

References
1. De, Sadhan K. (31 December 1996).
Rubber Technologist's Handbook,
Volume 1 (1st ed.). Smithers Rapra
Press. p. 287. ISBN 978-1859572627.
Archived from the original on 2017-
02-07. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
2. Gent, Alan N. "Elastomer Chemical
Compound" . Encyclopædia
Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica.
Archived from the original on 2017-
02-07. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
3. Alger, Mark (21 April 1989). Polymer
Science Dictionary . Springer. p. 503.
ISBN 1851662200. Archived from the
original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved
7 February 2017.
4. "Market Study on Synthetic Rubber" .
Ceresana.com. Archived from the
original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved
2013-06-28.
5. "Global rubber market to generate $56
billion by 2020" . British Plastics and
Rubber (BP&R). Archived from the
original on 2018-09-22. Retrieved
2018-09-21.
 6. "Definitions of terms relating to the
structure and processing of sols, gels,
networks, and inorganic–organic
hybrid materials (IUPAC
Recommendations 2007)" (PDF). Pure
and Applied Chemistry. 79 (10): 1801–
1829. 2007.
doi:10.1351/pac200779101801 .
Archived (PDF) from the original on
2018-01-06. Retrieved 2017-07-14.

External links
Efficient and eco-friendly polymerization
of elastomers, By Andreas Diener,
Product Manager at List AG
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Elastomer&oldid=950865934"

Last edited 28 days ago by Correogsk

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