Butyl rubber production
Butyl rubber, also known by the acronym IIR for Isobutylene-Isoprene-Rubber, is the synthetic elastomer resulting from the copolymerization of isobuthylene and isoprene. Usually it also contains a small mixture of isoprene or buta-1,3-diene. Sulfur or nitrous compounds are most often used for vulcanization. Due to the high isobutylene content, it has a very wide range of applications.
Butyl Rubber - Dampening and waterproofing
Butyl – IIR elastomer offers excellent resistance to extreme temperatures (from – 60°C to + 150°C), bad weather, ozone and aging. It has good chemical resistance to concentrated mineral acids, ammonia, concentrated alkalis, halogenated or nitrate derivatives, organic acids, ketones, alcohols and esters. It therefore offers good compatibility with glycol-based brake fluids but is not resistant to oils.
Finally, the butyl – IIR elastomer has very good gas impermeability. It also has excellent dampening qualities and electrical insulation properties.
Summary of the properties of butyl elastomer
Advantages
- Gas impermeability
- Vapor resistance
- Weather and extreme temperatures resistance
- Dampening
- Electrical insulation
Disadvantages
- Low resistance to hydrocarbons (oils and greases), aliphatic, aromatic or chlorinated solvents
- Compression set
Applications of Butyl Rubber
Butyl elastomer is mainly found in dampening applications, in the tyre inner tube industry in the transport sector. Its gas-tight qualities make it a prime candidate for applications in the personal protection sector. It also finds applications in the building sector where its resistance to bad weather is sought after.