Industrial Synthetic Method of the Rubbers

14. Chloroprene Rubber

Abstract

Chloroprene rubber has the history of more than 80 years since its industrialization started in 1931 is a general purpose synthetic rubber with excellent properties, such as good mechanical strength, good heat resistance, high weather/ozone resistance, good fluid resistance and low flammability. This paper outlines the industrial manufacturing process of chloroprene rubber. Chloroprene rubber is produced by free-radical emulsion polymerization of chloroprene monomers. The two main synthesis processes for of chloroprene monomer are (1) acetylene method and (2) butadiene method; where the raw materials for chloroprene molecules are acetylene and butadiene respectively.