Polymer glossary

Below is a list of terms relating to the manufacture of polymers and definitions of these, as well as abbreviations for the most common rubber polymer types.

Accelerator
Chemical added to increase curing rate.

Acrylonitrile
Unsaturated hydrocarbon containing nitrogene (CH2 CHCN), part of nitrile rubber, NBR.

Activator
Chemical to activate the curing reaction.

Antioxidant
Chemical to reduce oxidation.

Antiozonants
Chemical to reduce ozone cracking.

Bladder
Inflatable bladder, used to form the tire in the mold during curing.

Blowing agent
Chemical to make sponge rubber, forming the cells by release of gas.

Butadiene
Unsaturated hydrocarbon (CH2 CHCHCH2 ) part of butadiene rubber, BR.

Calender
Machine with two or more rolls for making sheets.

Chloroprene
Base of chloroprene rubber, CR, containing chlorine.

Coagulate
A substance that is precipitated from a liquid.

Copolymer
A polymer made of two or more monomers.

Cord fabric
Used as reinforcement of rubber products like tires. Made of rayon, polyamide or polyester, etc.

Crazing
Small cracks on the surface from influence of weather.

Emulsion
A heterogeneous liquid with two or more substances dispersed in a liquid.

Ethylene
Unsaturated hydrocarbon (CH2 CH2 ) part of ethylene-propylene rubber, EPM or EPDM. *

Extrusion
Process whereby rubber is formed by pressing through a die, e.g. profiles.

Flash
Excess rubber created during molding. Coming from overflow and injection feed system.

ISO 9000
Standardized management system for quality

ISO 14000
Standardized management system for environmental assurance.

Isobutylene
Unsaturated hydrocarbon (CH3 C(CH3 )CH2 ) part of butyl rubber, IIR.

Isoprene
Unsaturated hydrocarbon (CH2 C(CH3 )CHCH2 ) part of isoprene rubber, IR and butyl rubber, IIR.

Kautschuk
Arising from the Indian name "cahu-chu" meaning "the crying tree".

Latex
The milky liquid in plants like the rubber tree and dandelion. An emulsion of rubber particles in water.

Monomer
Derives from Greek word "mono" meaning one and meros meaning part. Several monomers make a polymer.

Natural rubber
Rubber extracted from Hevea Brasiliensis.

Polymer
Derives from the Greek word "poly" meaning many and meros meaning part. A polymer consists of a long molecular chain made of equal units. (monomers).

Polymerization
Chemical reaction where several molecules of same type is united to produce a bigger unit.

Propylene
Unsaturated hydrocarbon (CH2 CHCH3 ), part of ethylene-propylene rubber, EPM and EPDM.

Prototype
A first model for checking a new product.

Sandblasting
Cleaning a surface by blowing sand particles.

Styrene
Aromatic hydrocarbon, part of styrene-butadiene rubber, SBR.

Sulfur bridge
Bridging two rubber molecules with a sulfur bond.

Synthetic rubber
Man-made polymer.

UV-light
Invisible light with high energy content. Used for making a rubber surface glossy.

Viscosity
A property in liquids and polymers depending on the inner friction. High viscosity means less flow than in substances with low viscosity.

Vulcanization
Arises from "vulcan" being the God of the fire and the smithery. Also called curing. When adding sulfur to a rubber compound, the sulfur forms crosslinks between the polymer chains, making the rubber elastic.

Abbreviation of rubber polymers

ACM, Acrylic rubber

BIIR, Bromo butyl rubber

BR, Butadiene rubber

CIIR, Chloro buryl rubber

CM, Chlorinated Polyethylene rubber

CR, Chloroprene rubber

CSM, Chlorosulponated polyethylene rubber

ECO, Epichlorohydrin rubber

EPDM, Ethylene Propylene Diene rubber

FPM, Fluoro rubber

HNBR, Hydrogenated Nitrile rubber