Pros and Cons of synthetic rubber adhesive

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Pros and Cons of Synthetic Rubber
Adhesive Adhesive tapes are composed of two
distinct layers. Each of these layers is
important to the properties of the final
product, and adds to the adhesion and strength of
tape. The first layer is the backing material,
and is selected to provide half of the tapes
final properties. It can be polyimide film (the
generic version of DuPonts Kapton), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
It can also be some other form of plastic, cloth
or paper material. The other half of the tape is
determined by the adhesive layer applied to this
backing layer. The main categories of adhesive
tape are silicon, acrylic, and rubber. Each of
these adhesive types has their own advantages
and disadvantages which make them more or less
suitable for certain environments and
situations. Synthetic rubber tape is a synthetic
polymer often used in the hook and loop fastening
system. Compared to other types of adhesives, it
is less expensive and has a higher initial tack
quality. However, rubber adhesives come with
their own downsides. This article discusses
various pros and cons of synthetic rubber
adhesive. Features of Rubber Adhesive Only by
looking at the tape roll, it is very hard to tell
the type of rubber used on the tape. Rubber
adhesives can be divided into two subgroups
Natural and Synthetic.
1. Natural rubber Natural rubber adhesive has
higher tack, or stickiness i-e adhesion. It has
limited UV resistance, low temperature
resistance, and high shear strength. This kind
of adhesion is used in the cheapest tapes on the
market, but they have limited applications.
Natural rubber adhesives are used in duct tapes,
low-temperature masking tapes and surface
protection tapes.
Synthetic rubber Synthetic rubber is formulated
rubber, artificially manufactured in lab, as
opposed to natural rubber coming from the trees.
Synthetic rubber can be further categorized into
three subgroups Hot-melt, Solvent and Butyl
rubber.
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1. Hot-melt rubber Hot-melt rubber is a
low-temperature melting plastic. This means this
adhesive type has low temperature resistance. It
has low UV resistance, ages poorly, and becomes
brittle due to prolonged exposure to the sun.
This rubber is good for low- to medium-duty
carton sealing, paper core starting
applications, and low-temperature splicing.
2. Solvent rubber Solvent-rubber based adhesives
have comparatively better temperature resistance,
and aging performance. However, they do not have
good UV resistance. This type of adhesive is used
for electrical and foam tapes.
3. Butyl rubber This type of synthetic rubber
is has an excellent UV resistance, and aging
performance. However, it has a low mechanical
strength. Butyl rubber adhesives are popular for
foam tape applications, construction and plumbing
applications.

• Pros
• Easy to Clean
• Synthetic rubber adhesive is specifically
  engineered to adhere to a wide range of surfaces
  quickly and efficiently. Once removed from a
  surface, rubber adhesive does not leave any
  stickiness behind, and can be removed easily. It
  is also known as a smart adhesive because it
  will hold firm till the time you want it to bind.
  Once you decide to take it off, all you need to
  do is pull off the tape. There will be no need to
  clean it because it does not leave any trace of
  adhesive residue.
• Works in all weather
• The special design of synthetic rubber adhesive
  is such that it performs well in extreme ranges
  of weather and temperature conditions. Unlike
  natural rubber adhesives, synthetic rubber is
  engineered to perform in a wide range of
  temperatures, from as cold as 45 F to as hot as
  200 F, in rain or shine.
• Resistant to chemicals contaminants
• One of the biggest pros of synthetic rubber
  adhesive is its superior resistance to chemical
  and other contaminants. It is not possible to
  remain away from hazardous chemicals and dirty
  work environments in an industrial setup.
  However, you can address the challenges of
  working in variety of environments, where some
  are dirtier then others, by using synthetic
  rubber adhesives. This kind of rubber adhesive
  provides a reliable working partner no matter how
  harsh (or dirty) the environment.
• Ages well, remains stable
• Synthetic rubber adhesives age gracefully, better
  than other natural rubber adhesives. Synthetic
  adhesives have a strong grip and they last
  longer than natural rubber adhesives. Using this
  adhesive will take away the worry of

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• replacing it again and again. The moment you
  apply this adhesive you can be sure that it will
  remain strong and ready for work, even if it
  sits around for a while.
• 5. Conformability and stability
• Synthetic adhesive provides greater
  conformability for working with irregular
  surfaces. Although you would like it more if you
  have to operate on smooth surfaces, but that
  happens only in a perfect world. In real-world
  scenarios, we need an adhesive that can adhere
  to uneven and rough surfaces. Synthetic rubber
  adhesive will conform to most irregular
  surfaces, and provide the stability you need.
  Once you are done with a project and you need to
  take it off, you can do it conveniently.
• Cons
• Although silicone rubber has many advantages to
  its many properties, there are certain
  disadvantages of silicone rubber too.
• Instability
• Synthetic rubber adhesive is highly susceptible
  to moisture and high temperatures, which may
  cause it to break down over time. Moreover, it
  is also not a good choice if you use solvents or
  chemicals because they can wear away at the
  rubber. Synthetic rubber provides great adhesion
  on plastic items and in indoor situations where
  there are fewer chances of extreme temperature
  changes.
• Costly
• One of the primary disadvantages of synthetic
  glues is that it is very costly to design and
  produce. However, depending on your needs,
  synthetic rubber adhesive could save you on
  operating costs, which may make up for their
  larger cost.

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