ABSTRACT
The worldwide production capacity for all synthetic elastomers was around 15,500 kilotons [1] per year (kt/yr) in 2012 and is projected to grow at 3.4% in the next 3 years. Historically, the split between natural and synthetic elastomers has ranged from 40% to 50% natural rubber (NR), though the level of NR being used has been decreasing due to the emergence of new solution-polymerized elastomers and special-purpose 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
I. Introduction to Specialty Elastomers .............................................................. 83 II. Need for Specialty Synthetic Elastomers .......................................................85 III. Vulcanization of Specialty Elastomers ........................................................... 89 IV. Synthesis and Manufacturing Process ............................................................ 89 V. Solvent-Resistant Specialty Elastomers ..........................................................92
