Exploring Rubber Active Agents
Rubber active agents (RAA) are materials often used in rubber product manufacturing, to give products such as tyres, conveyor belts and hoses the strength and versatility to stand up to the most extreme conditions.
What is a Rubber Active Agent?
Put simply, a RAA is a chemical material that affects the performance of rubber products. To be more specific, when added during the product’s manufacturing process, a RAA interacts with the rubber molecules, which then changes the physical and chemical properties of the rubber, making it more resistant to wear and tear and more resistant to harsh chemical compounds.
Benefits of Rubber Active Agents
The use of rubber active agents provides a range of benefits for its users.for example:
- Extends product life: The addition of a RAA improves the chemical and physical properties of the rubber in which it is used, improving its endurance and durability.
- Increases safety: Any product that needs to be able to resist wear and tear or extreme temperatures needs to have a RAA used during its manufacturing process, to improve testing and safety standards of the final product.
- Cost-effectiveness: Rubber products that use a RAA will last longer and stand up to extreme environments, meaning they require less maintenance or repairs, which helps to keep overall cost down.
Different types of Rubber Active Agents
RAAs come in various types, but some stands out the most. Such as:
- Styrene Butadiene: This is the most common type of RAA, used to increase rubber’s resistance to weather, sunlight, ozone and certain chemicals. It also helps to improve tear strength.
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene: This type of RAA is used when a higher level of oil and chemical resistance is required, and also provides better vibration resistance.
- Nitrile Rubber: This type of RAA is used to impart improved oil and fuel resistance, as well as heat ageing resistance with better wear and abrasion resistance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, rubber active agents are essential components of rubber products, helping to improve safety and durability, while being cost-effective at the same time. With the many types of RAAs available on the market, it can be easy to find the right one for your application.
