Module - 5

Smart Materials
Synthetic Rubber :

A synthetic rubber is any artificial elastomer. These are

mainly polymers synthesized from petroleum by
products.

Synthetic rubber, like natural rubber, has uses in the

automotive industry for tires, door and window
profiles, hoses, belts, matting, and flooring.
• Synthetic rubber is a artificial elastomer mostly created from
petroleum by products.
• Approximately 70% of rubber used now is synthetic
rubber.
• Creating artificial rubber begins with petroleum.
• Two gases called butadiene and styrene are produced as by
products during the petroleum refining process.

• Liquid latex, a basic form of synthetic rubber, is created when

butadiene and styrene are properly combined.

• After liquid latex is allowed to dry, it can be formed into

different shapes and used by manufacturing facilities in place
of natural rubber.
• In commercials automobile tires are made of synthetic rubber
• Natural rubber, coming from latex of Hevea brasiliensis, is
mainly poly-cis isoprene containing traces of impurities like
protein, dirt etc.

• Although it exhibits many excellent properties in terms of

mechanical performance, natural rubber is often inferior to
certain synthetic rubbers, especially with respect to its
thermal stability and its compatibility with petroleum
products.

• Synthetic rubber, like other polymers, is made from various

petroleum-based monomers. The most prevalent synthetic
rubbers are styrene-butadiene rubbers (SBR) derived from
the copolymerization of styrene and 1,3-butadiene.
• Synthetic rubber offers better resistance to
abrasion than natural rubber, as well as superior
resistance to heat and the effects of aging.
• Many types of synthetic rubber are flame-resistant, so
it can be used as insulation for electrical devices.
• Natural rubber is from rubber trees, rubber grass and
other plants and going through processing of gelatine;
• Synthetic rubbers are made of various monomers after
the polymerization. ... However, by adding the stabilizer
to natural rubber, sometimes natural rubber sheeting
can keep for a long time.
 Silicon Rubber
• Silicone rubber is an elastomer (rubber-like material) composed of silicone
- itself a polymer—containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen.

• Silicone rubbers are widely used in industry, and there are multiple
formulations.
• Silicone rubbers are often one- or two-part polymers, and may contain
fillers to improve properties or reduce cost.
• Silicone rubber is generally non-reactive, stable, and resistant to extreme
environments and temperatures from -67 °F to 572 °F (-55 °C to 300 °C)
while still maintaining its useful properties.

• Silicone rubber can be found in a wide variety of products, including:

voltage line insulators, automotive applications; cooking, baking, and food
storage products; apparel such as undergarments, sportswear, and
footwear; electronics; medical devices and implants; and in home repair
and hardware with products such as silicone sealants.
 Properties Silicone rubber

• Silicone rubber offers good resistance to extreme temperatures, being

able to operate normally from −100 to 300 °C (−148 to 572 °F).

• Some properties such as elongation, creep, cyclic flexing, tear strength,

compression set, dielectric strength (at high voltage),
thermal conductivity, fire resistance and in some cases tensile strength
can be—at extreme temperatures—far superior to organic rubbers

• Silicone rubber is a material of choice in industry when retention of

initial shape and mechanical strength are desired under heavy thermal
stress or sub-zero temperatures.

• Silicone rubber is highly inert and does not react with most chemicals.
Due to its inertness, it is used in many medical applications including
medical implants. It is biocompatible,
hypoallergenic, which makes it suitable for baby care products, and
food contact in general.
 Neoprene

• Neoprene (also polychloroprene or pc-rubber) is a

family of synthetic rubbers that are produced by
polymerization of chloroprene.

• Neoprene exhibits good chemical stability and maintains

flexibility over a wide temperature range.

• Neoprene is sold either as solid rubber or in latex form

and is used in a wide variety of applications, such as
laptop sleeves, orthopaedic braces (wrist, knee, etc.),
electrical insulation, liquid and sheet applied elastomeric
membranes or flashings, and automotive fan belts
• Neoprene is used as a load bearing base, usually
between two prefabricated reinforced concrete
elements or steel plates as well to evenly guide force
from one element to another

• Favorite material for lifestyle and other home

accessories including laptop sleeves, tablet holders
remote controls, mouse pads, and cycling shorts

• In automotive industry, neoprene is often used as a

material for car seats or car seat covers[
Mechanical Properties of Neoprene:
– Compression Set : Good.
– Rebound Rating : Fair to Very Good.
– Flex Cracking Resistance : Good to Very Good.
– Abrasion Resistance : Very Good to Excellent.
– Tear Resistance : Good.
– Impact Resistance : Good to Excellent.
– Flame Resistance : Very Good to Excellent.
 Fiber Reinforced Polymers

• A FRP reinforcement is a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) (or fiber

reinforced plastic) that is used as internal reinforcement, such as rebar,
or externally bonded reinforcement used to strengthen concrete,
masonry, steel, and timber structures.

• A fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), also known as fiber reinforced

polymer, is a composite material that use natural or synthetic fibers to
mechanically enhance the strength and stiffness of a polymer matrix.
FRPs used to reinforce and strengthen structures are extremely strong,
up to eight times stronger than typical reinforcing steel.

• FRP systems are an increasingly acceptable alternative to steel

reinforcement for reinforced concrete structures including cast-in-
place and pre- and post-tensioned bridges, precast concrete pipes,
columns, beams and other components.
• FRPs used for internal reinforcement and strengthening of
structures use synthetic fibers in a polymeric matrix to provide
excellent tensile strength in the direction of the fibers.

• The fibers are set in a straight, parallel and continuous

arrangement within the matrix. These FRPs are sometimes
known in the civil engineering community as high-strength
composites.
Fibers
• The predominant fibers used in FRPs related to structure
reinforcement are:
– Glass fiber
– Aramid fiber, also known as the trade names Kevlar® and Technora®[3]
– Carbon fiber
– Basalt fiber
Matrix
• Common matrices used in FRP reinforcement products
are:
– Epoxy
– Vinyl Ester

• Both of these matrices are thermosetting resins, The

matrix of a FRP transfers the stresses from the exterior
of the FRP component, such as a reinforcing bar, to the
individual fibers so the quality of the matrix is extremely
important to the function and strength of the FRP. These
resins are also used to bond the FRP to a concrete,
masonry or timber substrate for externally bonded FRP
systems.
• Advantages
– High Strength and Lightweight
– Corrosion Resistant
– Dimensionally Stable
– Low Thermal Conductivity
– Nonconductive
– Electromagnetically Transparent
– Impact Resistant
– Low Lifecycle Costs
Disadvantages

• High Initial Cost (compared to steel reinforcement)

• Susceptibility to Mechanical Damage
• Susceptibility to Fire (without insulation)
• Inability to Bend in the Field
• Longer Load Transfer (Lap) Lengths
• Poor Shear Strength
• Low Strain to Failure (Lack of Ductility)