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The historical miracle of butyl rubber: Why did Faraday's discovery trigger a revolution in synthetic rubber?
Butyl rubber, referred to as "butyl", is a synthetic rubber, which is a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene rubber. This is supported by IIR (isobutylene-isoprene rubber), which stands for the only butyl rubber. Its main component is polyisobutylene (PIB), which is a homopolymer formed by the polymerization of isobutylene. In the production process of butyl rubber, about 98% isobutylene is polymerized with 2% isoprene green rubber. It is widely used in various products that require airtightness, including tire inner tubes, seals, adhesives, etc. .
Butyl rubber is used in a variety of important industries due to its excellent gas diffusion impermeability and flexibility.
History
The history of butyl rubber actually begins in 1825, when the famous scientist Michael Faraday first discovered isobutylene. Much later, in 1931, polyisobutylene (PIB) was first developed by the BASF unit of the German company BASF using a boron fluoride catalyst and cryogenic technology, which was developed into butyl rubber in 1937.
The development of butyl rubber reshaped the production of parts and components and marked a major milestone in the rubber industry.
With the participation of multiple companies, the world's butyl rubber is now mainly produced by ExxonMobil and Poland's Polysar. Before Polysar was founded to produce artificial rubber during World War II, many systems and production methods were revolutionized. The most important thing is that butyl rubber is used in tires and becomes an important component inside them, providing excellent sealing performance.
Application Scope
Butyl rubber is widely used in various fields. As an additive in fuels and lubricants, it can also effectively improve their performance, thereby increasing the efficiency of oil use. The material is also used in the manufacture of explosives because it acts as a binder for plastic explosives such as C-4 and improves their safety.
Butyl rubber provides a strong and airtight internal structure in sports equipment, such as the lining of balls.
In addition, the application of butyl rubber is not limited to industry, but also spreads throughout daily life. For example, the food-grade butyl rubber used in many modern chewing gums provides the gum with its elasticity and stickiness, which not only makes it last longer but has even prompted some municipalities to propose taxes on its cleanup costs.
Challenges and Prospects
In the spring of 2013, an ecological crisis caused by polyisobutylene pollution in the English Channel emerged. This incident was regarded as the most serious marine pollution in the UK in decades, triggering people's reflection on the use of synthetic materials.
Butyl rubber plays an important role in chemical protective equipment, providing protection against chemical agents.
Looking to the future, the application of butyl rubber will continue to expand, especially in terms of sustainable development and environmental protection, which will become an important consideration. We need to reassess the impact these synthetic materials have on the environment and how to better use them to serve societal needs. In the future, can we continue to promote the development of synthetic materials without harming the ecology? This has become a question worth pondering.
