One of the most ubiquitous materials found in today's world is sponge rubber
. Normally, one would think of only things like sofa cushions and underlay for carpets using sponge rubber for sheer comfort. That is partially true. The utterly luxurious feel that one gets when leaning back into or sitting on cushions stuffed with sponge rubber has to be experienced to be believed! However, it has applications far beyond these.
There are instances of people practicing games like golf and cricket in severely limited areas with a ball made of sponge rubber instead of a regular golf ball or cricket ball. Safety is the overriding concern when anyone does so. Safety issues also dictate the use of sponge rubber insulation coverings over hot metal hoses in typical Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) plants. This serves a dual purpose. It protects workers from scalding while conserving energy. Recent advancements in insulation technology are utilizing closed cell silicone sponge rubber as a primary source of high temperature insulation protection. The advantage of this material is that it has a very low thermal conductivity making it an excellent insulator.
Scientific breakthroughs have led to stronger rubber compounds that are more durable and resilient under harsh operating conditions. These advances have led to longer lasting rubber molding components. Given how much functionality rubber moldings add to our everyday lives, it is heartening to learn of how processes are making the production of rubber molded parts more environment friendly. Rubber molding parts are to be found in cooling systems as well as automotive vehicles.
The introduction of anti-stick products designed to work with uncured rubber compounds in recent years has significantly aided protection of the environment. These products are useful in the rubber molding production process because they make it easier to remove rubber parts from the mold without damaging or discoloring the final product. These newer solutions are water-based and offer lower levels of toxicity because they don't include heavy metals or silicone powders. Since they are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) atmospheric pollution is reduced and make the products safer to use.