TABLE OF CONTENTS Butyl rubber is an elastomeric polymer used widely in adhesives and sealants, both as primary binders and as tackifiers and modifiers. Butyl rubber is a copolymer of isobutylene with a small amount of isoprene.[19] These materials have relatively low strength and tend to exhibit creep under load. They are useful in packaging applications where their low permeability to gases, vapors, and moisture can be exploited. Butyl rubber is also used as an adhesive sealant. It is generally applied from a solvent-based solution. [1 ,5 ] Table 5.1 summarizes some of the important properties of butyl rubber adhesives.
| Adhesives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Rubber (Polyisoprene) | Reclaimed Rubber | Butyl Rubber | Polyisobutylene | |
| Description | Solvent solutions, latexes, and vulcanizing type | Solvent solutions, some water dispersions; most are black, some gray and red | Solvent system, latex | Solvent solution |
| Curing method | Solvent evaporation, vulcanizing type by heat press RT (two-part) | Evaporation of solvent | Solvent evaporation, chemical cross-linking with curing agents and heat | Evaporation of solvent |
| Usual adherends | Natural rubber, masonite, wood, felt, fabric, paper, metal | Rubber, sponge rubber, fabric, leather, wood, metal, painted metal, building materials | Rubber, metals | Plastic film, rubber, metal foil, paper |
| Advantages | Excellent resilience, moisture, and water resistance | Low cost, applied very easily with roller coating, spraying, dipping, or brushing; gains strength rapidly after joining; excellent moisture and water resistance | Excellent aging characteristics; chemically cross-linked materials have good thermal properties | Good aging characteristics; used as tackifiers in other adhesives; |
