The document discusses properties and applications of rubber. It begins by introducing the group members and providing an overview of natural and synthetic rubber. It then discusses various properties of rubber including its flexibility, elasticity, water resistance and insulation properties. Various applications of rubber are also presented, including use in rubber flooring, adhesives, bearings pads, and expansion joints. The document concludes that both natural and synthetic rubber have many uses in construction and other industries.

1. RUBBER 1
Group Members:
CHEAH XING NAN 0314326
REUEL ERNYI 0315150
TEO JUNTANG 0314667
YAP HUE ENG 0314857
YAP ZHI XIN (GL) 0314542

2. Introduction
 Rubber is a natural polymer of Isoprene (usually cis-
1,4-polyisoprene)
 Rubber is also known as an elastomer.
 It can be defined as a sticky, elastic solid
 Produced from a milky liquid known as latex 
Natural rubber
 Produced artificially  Synthetic rubber.
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3. Types of Rubber
 Natural Rubber
 Latex
 Coagulated by weak acetic acid
after removing the impurities.
 It is then passed through rollers
to get creep rubber.
 It is then processed to get
commercial rubber compounds.
 Synthetic Rubber
 General purpose synthetic rubber
 Stryene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)
 Special purpose synthetic rubber
 Have special qualities to suit
different purposes
 Neoprene
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4. Characteristics of rubber
 Flexible, Elastic
 Not transparent
 Water proof/repellence
 Hard, Strong
 Insulate electricity
 Acid & alkaline resistant
 Doesn’t conduct to heat
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5. Properties
 Physical Properties
 Non reactive
 Chemically Resistant to many fluids including many water, weak
acids & alkalis
 Non conductive
 Poor conductor of heat & electric
 Elastic
 Tough
 Electric resistant
 Electric insulator
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6.  Chemical Properties
 Polymers
 Consists of isoprene molecules fitted together in loosed chains
 Consisting long chains of one or more type of molecules
 Contain long chains of hydrogen and carbon molecules
 Rubber go through vulcanization through adding sulfur which result
in a hard, durable material with great mechanical properties.
 This create a chemical links between the chains.
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7. Functions
 Sustainability
 Rubber has many uses that makes rubber & recycled rubber
products a valuable sustainable material.
 Rubber is being used as repairing material in United States
Pave roads & bridge
 Surface of roads are upgraded with ground rubber material
 Playgrounds with rubber flooring
Not only safer but its own aesthetic value
 Used & re-purposed for protective gear
 Create fibers for clothing & outerwear
 Lower the budget in construction
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8.  Green Materials/ Eco Friendly Materials
 Rubber is produced naturally which is a definite green
material as rubber recycling has become more
common.
 There is market demand which keeps vast amounts of
rubber out of landfills
 Importance of Recycled Rubber
 Reclaiming & recycling rubber uses less energy than
producing a new rubber.
 Recycling rubber reduces the demand for new
natural rubber which may keep rubber tree
plantations from expanding into sensitive tropical
ecosystems.
 Keeping rubber out of landfills protects
environments as well as human health
 Tire fires in landfills will cause pollution & pose a
significant safety hazard.
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9.  AestheticValue
 Can be obtained in different types of color
 Have great eye appeal
 Easily shaped, hence allow designer to create
seamless installations
 More safety
 Comfortable
 Hygienic
 Can also be engineered with antimicrobial
properties
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10.  Durability
 Vulcanization
 Forming cross-link between polymer chains
 Less sticky, more durable
 (Vulcanized rubber)
 Tires, shoe soles, hoses, conveyer belts & hockey pucks
 (Hard vulcanized rubber)
 Bowling balls, saxophone mouth pieces
 Can be called ebonite & vulcanite
 Nature of the rubber
 Can be compressed & stressed
 NON reactive to acid & alkaline
 Heat & electrical insulator
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11. 11
ADVANTAGES
DURABILITY
SOFT
FIRE & BURN
RESISTANT
SOUND
ABSORBER
WATER
RESISTANT
• Strong, rough & resilient
against a variety of
conditions
• Can last longer with proper
care
•Nonporous
• Soft to touch
• relieve stress fatigue
associated with standing
or walking for long periods
• Safety of children
• Resistant to burns
• Non toxic
• Will not release noxious fumes
into the air in case of fire.
• Depends on the thickness
• Can act as a powerful sound
barrier.
ENVIRONMENTAL
FRIENDLY
• Recyclable
• Better choice as environmental
impact is concerned

12. 12
DISADVANTAGES
EXPENSIVE
• Rubber materials have
high initial cost.
HIGH MAINTENANCE
•Dirt will builds up easily on rubber
•Needed to cleaned it often to be
kept clean
ODOUR
•Have a very distinct odor that
isn't pleasing to everyone.
•Will dissipate in time in
outdoor.
STAINING
• Resistant to most staining
agents
•Detergent & other abrasive
cleaning liquid which may
discolor surface.
• Grease will have a drastic
negative effect if not wiped
up.

13. Application
 Rubber flooring
 Used to a large extent in public and
industrial buildings because of their good
wearing qualities, resiliency (i.e., elasticity)
and noise insulation.
 Made up of pure rubber mixed with fillers,
such as cotton fibre, granulated cork or
asbestos fibre and the desired colouring
pigments.
 Manufactured in the form of sheets or tiles,
in a variety of patterns and colours.
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14. 14

15.  Rubber Adhesive
 Most all rubber-based glues and bonding agents are made of
rubber mixed with other compounds.
 Suited as a bonding element because of its flexibility.
 Some types of bonding compounds made with rubber are
used as sealants.
 However rubber adhesive is extremely flammable.
 It is not suitable for bonding in high temperature situations
 It is generally used where dampness is an issue because of its
water resistance.
 might be damaged by other solvents, such as oil and grease,
and not suitable for bonding heavy pieces.
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16. 16

17.  Bearings pad
 Used extensively in standard construction
applications, buildings & structural steel bearings
applications.
 Synthetic fibres are added to the base rubber
compounds to create an internal stiffening like steel
reinforced concrete.
 This mesh structure delivers enhanced
 tensile & compressive
strength
 stiffness
 tear resistance
 durability
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18.  Rubber bearing pads has been used in:
 Bridge bearing masonry pads
 Handrail bearing pads
 Pads between steel beams, girders, grates & columns
 Pads between bridge and roof beams and substructures
 Shock and vibration isolation
 Heavy equipment mounting pads
 Railway tie pad applications
 Pads underneath concrete vaults
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19.  Expansion joints
 A mid-structure separation which designed to relieve
stress on building materials caused by building
movement by:
 Thermal expansion & contraction caused by
temperature changes,
 Sway caused by wind,
 Seismic events
 It marks a gap through all building assemblies
including walls, floors, decks, planters & plazas, etc.
because the joint bisects the entire structure.
 Used to bridge the gap & restore the building
assembly functions while being able to accommodate
the expected movements.
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20. 20

21. Rubber gasket
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22. Conclusion
 Both natural & synthetic rubber is not widely use
in the construction industry.
 However, it is mainly used in household &
industrial products
 Therefore, rubber industry have a bright future
for rubber industry.
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23. References List
1) Andrew Henderson, L. (2010 , May 8). 5 disadvantages of rubber flooring. Retrieved
from http://voices.yahoo.com/5-disadvantages-rubber-flooring-
5973904.html?cat=30
2) Henry Snow, C. (2011 ). Physical and chemical properties of rubber. Retrieved from
http://www.booksupstairs.com/Wood-and-other-organic-structural-
materials/Physical-and-Chemical-Properties.html
3) How rubber becomes a sustainable material. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-rubber-becomes-a-sustainable-material
4) Moore, J. (1950). Some chemical and physical properties of rubber. 1(1), Retrieved
from http://iopscience.iop.org/0508-3443/1/1/303
5) P.C,V. (2006). Building materials. (2nd ed., pp. 182-184). New Delhi: Prentice Hall of
India.
6) Rubberform load bearing rubber. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.rubberform.com/products/industrial/rubberform-load-bearing-rubber
7) Rubber selection - a guide to outline properties. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.merl-ltd.co.uk/2003_materials/rubber12.shtml
8) Rubber flooring. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.theconstructioncivil.com/2010/01/rubber-flooring.html
9) Rubbers & glass as engineering materials . (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.aboutcivil.org/Rubbers-and-Glass.html
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