Styrene‐Butadiene Rubber

Abstract

Abstract Lattime, Richard R. (The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.). Although produced in the 1990s, emulsion styrene–butadiene rubber (ESBR) only gained its manufacture prominence and acceptance as the substitute for natural rubber as a result of World War II. In the 1950s, the discovery of alkyllithium compound initiators gave stereospecific copolymers of styrene and butadiene. Control of the polymer microstructure of random solution styrene–butadiene rubber (SSBR) gave enhanced tire properties of improved rolling resistance, wet traction, and improved treadwear. SSBR began to displace ESBR in some tire applications in the early 1960s. ESBR and SSBR combine in the mid‐1990s to give the largest‐volume synthetic polymer manufactured, amounting to about 29% of the world consumption of all synthetic rubber. Although both ESBR and SSBR processed somewhat differently from natural rubber, both polymer types were quickly adapted to the common rubber processing machinery. Recipes include the typical vulcanizing agents, accelerators, accelerator activators, pigments, softeners, and antidegradents. Worldwide production of styrene–butadiene rubber increased 7% from 1994 to 1995; projected growth through 1999 is 11%. This increase in a historically flat market is the result of increasing scarcity of natural rubber as plantations continue to be taken out of production. Tires remain the largest market for ESBR and SSBR, accounting for 80% of the total. At the end of 1995, rubber and tire manufacturers were required to comply with a section of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 to report emission information of identified hazardous air pollutants specific to their operation.