Specific weight of rubber: properties, uses and table

Rubber is an elastic material produced by vulcanizing natural or synthetic rubbers. It is a cross-linked elastomer, formed when rubber polymer chains are connected by chemical bonds.

To obtain rubber by vulcanization, 20 to 60 percent of the composition is usually the base rubber. The rest of the mixture may vary depending on the required properties, operating conditions, production technology and product requirements. It can include vulcanization activators and accelerators, anti-aging additives, vulcanizing agents and softening plasticizers. Regenerates capable of repeated vulcanization, modifiers, scorch retarders, dyes, flame retardants, blowing agents and aromatic additives may also be used.

Table of rubber specific weight

Because rubber is a complex material, its exact density is best determined from manufacturer data or laboratory measurements. The average reference range of rubber specific weight is from 1 to 2 g/cm3.

For easier calculations, the table below gives values for rubber weight and specific weight by measurement unit. It can be used for approximate mass calculations.

Specific weight and weight of 1 m3 of rubber by measurement unit

Properties of rubber

Rubber differs from many other materials by its high elasticity, resilience, ability to undergo large reversible deformations and ability to retain shape under working conditions.

This type of material is soft and practically incompressible. When different additives and different types of rubber are combined and modified, the final properties can differ significantly.

The elasticity of rubber is 4-5 times lower than that of steel, but this characteristic is nonlinear and has a relaxation nature: it depends on load value, speed, time, temperature, frequency and loading mode. Reversible deformation can reach 500 to 1000 percent.

Rubber hardness depends on the content of plasticizers and fillers, as well as their type and the degree of vulcanization.

Rubber practically does not absorb water, but it can swell in organic solvents. The degree of swelling depends on the composition, type of rubber, fillers and degree of vulcanization. With properly selected components, increased resistance to oils, gasoline, water, chemicals and temperature fluctuations can be achieved.

During long-term operation and storage, rubber is subject to fatigue and aging, which reduce its quality characteristics and can lead to destruction.

Rubber is used in a wide range of fields. The main applications include:

• production of bicycle, motorcycle and automobile tires;
• production of technical rubber products such as belts, tapes, hoses, plates and rings;
• production of contraceptives, medical gloves, special chemical protection suits and civil defense equipment;
• production of different types of rubber footwear with increased moisture protection, such as galoshes and boots.