Styrene-butadiene rubber

Styrene-butadiene rubber is a synthetic elastomer made by copolymerizing styrene and butadiene. Its abrasion resistance and low cost make it widely used in tires and other rubber goods.

Emulsion polymerization: A polymerization method in which monomers react in an aqueous emulsion stabilized by surfactants. Most commercial SBR is made by polymerizing styrene and butadiene in an emulsion.
Tire: A ring-shaped vehicle component, usually made from reinforced rubber, that supports a wheel and provides traction. Tires are SBR's largest application, especially in tread and sidewall compounds.
Natural rubber: An elastomer obtained primarily from the latex of rubber trees, composed mainly of cis-1,4-polyisoprene. Natural rubber generally has greater tensile strength and resilience, while SBR often offers better abrasion resistance and lower cost.
Styrene: An aromatic vinyl monomer used to make polystyrene and many copolymers. Styrene units stiffen SBR and influence its glass-transition temperature.
Synthetic rubber: An elastomer manufactured through chemical synthesis rather than harvested as natural latex. SBR became one of the world's most widely produced synthetic rubbers.
Solution polymerization: A polymerization method in which monomers react in a solvent that also contains the growing polymer. Solution SBR allows close control of polymer structure and is common in modern tire compounds.
Tire tread: The patterned outer layer of a tire that contacts the road and provides traction. SBR's abrasion resistance makes it useful in tread compounds.
Polybutadiene rubber: A synthetic elastomer made by polymerizing butadiene, valued for resilience and low-temperature flexibility. Tire compounds often blend polybutadiene with SBR to balance wear, grip, and heat buildup.
Butadiene: A four-carbon conjugated diene used as a monomer for synthetic rubbers and plastics. Butadiene supplies the flexible unsaturated segments that dominate SBR's rubbery behavior.
World War II synthetic rubber program: A large-scale United States effort during World War II to replace lost natural-rubber supplies with synthetic materials. Wartime shortages accelerated production and adoption of SBR in the United States.

Linked from 9 pages