Rubber as a substance, is constructed with natural compounds which make it highly efficient in a series of forms. It can be utilized as a raw good or as a processed one, and it can impart functionality even after it’s recycled. The credit to industries’ exponential growth can be accredited to rubber utilized in raw or finished form. Another factor contributing to rubber’s efficient use is the advent of techniques which can convert raw rubber into a reliable final product, expanding the utility to its optimum.
Rubber sheets can be undoubtedly classified as a product of an industrial technique that brings out the best in rubber. In this blog, we will explore what exactly a rubber sheet is and how it is manufactured.
What are Rubber Sheets?
Rubber sheets constitute of natural, synthetic, or recycled rubber as its raw material. They are long, stretchable sheets curated as per the required length. Additionally, rubber sheets are abrasion-resistant and carry characteristics that surpass their original raw material. Their manufacturing process allows them to imbibe qualities such as durability, greater strength ,and resistance.
Rubber sheets are predominantly utilized to make other goods that inadvertently adapt their qualities. Rubber sheets are widely utilized across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and food processing sectors. They are used for sealing and utilized as a part of other products such as gaskets, O-rings, flooring mats, conveyor belts, and weather-resistant pads etc.
Let’s look at the Rubber Sheets Manufacturing Process
1. Material Selection
The quality of the final product is highly impacted by the type of raw material employed at the initial stage of processing. The raw material can be natural rubber (latex procured from the rubber trees), or synthetic rubber (obtained from petroleum or natural gas).
2. Compounding
The raw material is mixed with additives such as fillers, oils, plasticizers, etc. These additives blend to form a mixture and contribute to improving the properties of rubber. This stage of processing determines the flexibility and durability of the final product to be produced.
3. Calendering
Calendering is a process that gives the blended mixture a desired shape or form. Typically, a rubber calender machine is used for this task, which enables the creation of uniform rubber sheets. The machine is constructed with a mechanism that rolls out thin, consistent rubber sheets and offers customization.
4. Vulcanization
Through vulcanization, the material gains properties such as elasticity and durability. In this process, heat and sulfur are utilized to harden the rubber. Heat triggers a reaction of sulfur with the polymer chains in rubber, resulting in cross-links that connect the molecules. This process coagulates the rubber and makes it more adaptable.
5. Cooling
After undergoing the above procedures, the rubber sheets are typically hot. They need to be cooled to prevent any deformation or shrinkage. At this stage, the rubber sheets are cooled either by water or by an air spray.
6. Quality Control
The manufactured sheet is inspected to check if it meets the desired parameters on the lines of its overall quality and safety standards. Typically, they are checked for resistance, tensile strength, abrasion and compression. Specific devices (such as durometer to check the hardness) are used to check whether the sheet renders each of these qualities.
7. Packaging
The finished goods are cut or rendered with the final touches. Once it’s fully observed the manufactured product is good to go, the sheets are rolled or assembled. They are then preserved in packaging which protects them from external damage caused by sunlight or weather-specific conditions.
Also Read: Why Are Rubber Sheets Essential in the Automotive and Aerospace Industries?
Conclusion
Rubber sheets represent a versatile form of processed rubber. The invention of rubber sheets is backed by scientific knowledge and has successfully adapted, enhanced, and core qualities of rubber. Today, its industrial usage has made it an inevitable part of the rubber industry.
Shree Rubber Works pioneer in rubber sheet manufacturing. We are heavily invested in bringing some of the latest rubber-manufacturing goods and innovations. To know more about our offerings, reach out to us: https://www.shreerubberworks.com/contact/