What is natural rubber?
Natural rubber is a natural product derived from the rubber tree, mainly the Brazilian rubber tree. This bio-based material is composed of 97% isoprene, and the cis structure of the molecular chain gives it a unique “memory elasticity” – it can be stretched by 300% and still return to its original shape.
The latest molecular dynamics simulations show that the self-repairing ability of natural rubber molecular chains stems from the spatial site-barrier effect of its side-chain methyl groups, a microstructure formed by biological evolution that has so far not been fully replicated by industrial synthesis.
In dynamic fatigue tests, natural rubber products are three to five times more resistant to crack growth than styrene butadiene rubber (synthetic rubber), which explains the underlying reasons why natural rubber compounds must be used in aircraft tires.
In equatorial countries such as Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia, rubber cutters collect rubber sap by cutting off the bark of rubber trees, which is solidified, pressed, and smoked to dry, and ultimately becomes an industrial raw material.
What is synthetic rubber?
Synthetic rubber, on the other hand, is a product of petroleum cracking that is artificially synthesized through chemical reactions. People modulate the polymerization reactions of monomers such as styrene and butadiene, and we have created more than 20 variants such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and chloroprene rubber (CR).
Synthetic rubber can be flexibly adapted in terms of raw materials and processing, so it is better able to meet the needs of specific applications.
The difference between them
- Origin: Natural rubber is a product of natural evolution, while synthetic rubber is the result of mankind’s reverse engineering of molecular structure.
- Microstructure: cis-polyisoprene chains of natural rubber are more regular, while synthetic rubber can regulate properties through branching and cross-linking.
- Environmental response: natural rubber remains elastic at -50°C, while fluoroelastomer (FKM) is stable at temperatures up to 200°C
- Ecological: each ton of natural rubber consumes 2.5 hectares of rainforest, while synthetic rubber production involves petrochemical energy and catalyst pollution
Is synthetic rubber better than natural rubber?
This is a false proposition. When a Boeing 787 has to use rubber to seal its fuel tanks, synthetic rubber is the only choice; but the hammers of a top-quality piano must be made of natural rubber because its vibration-attenuating properties cannot be duplicated. Both have their advantages in different areas, and comparing which is better, natural or synthetic rubber, requires a premise, and then comparing them within that premise.
Comparison of The Properties of Natural Rubber and Synthetic Rubber
| characterization | natural rubber | synthetic rubber |
| resilient | Excellent for applications requiring high resilience | Better, but generally inferior to natural rubber |
| tensile strength | High for applications subjected to high loads | General, depending on synthetic rubber type |
| abrasion resistance | Excellent for frequent wear and tear | Better, but usually inferior to natural rubber |
| heat resistance | Poor, usually degraded in high temperature environments | Excellent, many synthetic rubbers have good heat resistance |
| oil resistance | Poor, not suitable for oil environments | Better, especially for specific types of synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene, butyl rubber) |
| chemical resistance | Poor and vulnerable to chemicals | Excellent, especially in chemical and oxidation resistance |
| UV resistance | Poor, prone to aging and degradation | Many synthetic rubbers offer increased UV resistance for outdoor applications |
| antioxidant properties | Poor, easy to oxidize and harden, aging fast | Excellent, especially some synthetic rubbers such as EPDM have strong oxidation resistance |
| costs | Higher, influenced by climatic and regional factors | Lower, stable production processes that are not dependent on natural resources |
| matrix | Somewhat sustainable due to plant origin, but sometimes environmentally stressful | Less environmentally friendly due to dependence on petroleum resources and possible pollution from the production process |
Life expectancy of natural and synthetic rubber
The aging of natural rubber under UV light is like the decay of a living organism – oxidative reactions break molecular chains and surface cracking is irreversible. Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), on the other hand, has been hydrotreated to extend its life to three times that of natural rubber. However, recent research has found that in deep-sea high-pressure environments, the fatigue life of natural rubber is superior to that of most synthetic varieties.
Price Difference
According to the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) 2023 data, the global annual consumption of rubber has reached 30 million tons, of which natural rubber accounts for 43% and synthetic rubber 57%.
In the same year, natural rubber prices were 37% volatile and subject to weather and pests in Southeast Asia, while synthetic rubber prices were tied to crude oil futures, with styrene butadiene rubber prices rising 23% during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Application Scenario
Natural rubber and synthetic rubber are used in different industries based on their different properties, and you can choose to use different rubbers depending on the industry you are in.
Natural Rubber
Suitable for automobile tires, shock-absorbing parts, seals, conveyor belts, hoses, medical latex gloves, latex pillows and so on.
Synthetic Rubber
Suitable for applications such as tire treads, shoe soles, fuel lines, oil seals, shock absorbers, fireproof hoses, diving suits, and high-temperature seals.
How do you choose the right rubber for you?
Follow the “environment-cost-performance” triangle model:
1. Temperature: more than 100 ℃ preferred fluorine rubber
2. Dynamic loads: natural rubber for frequent deformation scenarios
3. Media contact: Nitrile rubber (NBR) must be used in fuel environments.
4. Sustainability: Bio-based EPDM rubber has achieved a 35% renewable feedstock share
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