ABSTRACT
The worldwide production capacity for all elastomers is around 17,500 kilotons per year (kt/yr) and is split between natural rubber and synthetic elastomers (1). Historically, the split has ranged from 40% to 50% natural rubber, though the level of natural rubber being used has been decreasing due to the emergence of new solution-polymerized elastomers and specialpurpose polymers. Specialty elastomers make up a small but important portion of the arena of synthetic elastomers and consist of elastomers that have an annual estimated consumption of about 1000 kt/yr or less. These elastomers occupy critical application areas principally because they have one or more unique attributes. This distinction in the attributes of the specialty elastomers compared to general-purpose rubbers (GPR) and the structural features responsible for this distinction are illustrated in Table 1. Morton (2) and Dick (3) compiled excellent reviews of special-purpose elastomers. The purpose of this chapter is therefore to provide a brief overview of this important class of polymers and, as appropriate, provide references for further reading.
