The main advantages of A-90 rubber thickener formulations

In the rubber industry, formula design is a key factor in determining product performance, processing efficiency, and cost competitiveness. A-90 rubber thickener, as a high-performance functional additive, exhibits significant advantages in rubber products such as tires, seals, and conveyor belts due to its unique molecular structure and chemical properties. This article will systematically analyze the core value of A-90 rubber thickener in rubber formulations from four dimensions: increased adhesion and reinforcement, optimized processing performance, improved weather resistance, and cost-effectiveness.

1. Strengthening and Strengthening: Building a High Strength Adhesive Network

1. Molecular level thickening mechanism

A-90 rubber thickener belongs to aliphatic petroleum resin, and its molecular chain is rich in polar groups (such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups), which can form physical entanglement and chemical bonding with rubber molecules (such as natural rubber NR and styrene butadiene rubber SBR). This dual effect can significantly enhance the initial and holding viscosity of the rubber material, allowing uncured rubber to maintain excellent adhesive strength during mixing, rolling, molding, and other processes, reducing defects such as delamination and bubbles. For example, adding A-90 rubber thickener to the base rubber of the tire tread can increase the peel strength between the rubber material and the steel cord by more than 30%, effectively extending the service life of the tire.

2. Strengthen network optimization

The molecular weight distribution (500-1000) and softening point (90-110 ℃) of A-90 rubber thickener enable it to be uniformly dispersed in the rubber matrix, forming a three-dimensional reinforcement network. Compared with traditional carbon black reinforcing agents, A-90 rubber thickener can simultaneously improve the tensile strength (over 25MPa), tear strength (over 80kN/m), and elongation (over 600%) of the rubber compound, achieving a balance of mechanical properties between rigidity and flexibility. In addition, its light color characteristics (yellow to light brown solid) avoid the influence of carbon black on the appearance of rubber products, making it suitable for scenarios that require high transparency or color expression, such as colored tires and seals.

3. Synergistic effect of fillers

A-90 rubber thickener has good compatibility with various fillers such as calcium carbonate, clay, and white carbon black, which can promote the uniform dispersion of fillers in the rubber matrix and reduce agglomeration. For example, in the formula of conveyor belt covering adhesive, adding A-90 rubber thickener can increase the dispersion of calcium carbonate by 40%, thereby significantly improving the wear resistance and flexural life of the adhesive material.

2. Processing performance optimization: reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency

1. Mooney viscosity control

Mooney viscosity is a core indicator for measuring the processing performance of rubber. If it is too high, it will increase mixing energy consumption and equipment wear, while if it is too low, it may cause excessive flowability of the rubber material and difficulty in forming. A-90 rubber thickener can effectively reduce the Mooney viscosity of the rubber material (by 30-50%) by adjusting the flexibility of the molecular chain, without affecting the vulcanization time and physical properties after vulcanization. For example, adding A-90 rubber thickener to the carcass compound of radial tires can shorten the mixing cycle by 20% and reduce energy consumption by 15%.

2. Improved safety of coke burning

Burning (pre vulcanization) is a common problem in rubber processing, which may lead to rubber material scrap or equipment failure. The molecular structure of A-90 rubber thickener contains anti scorching groups, which can prolong the scorching time of the rubber material (t10 can be extended by 10-20%), providing a wider time range for the operation window. This characteristic is particularly important in high temperature seasons or high-speed mixing processes, which can significantly reduce waste rates.

3. Improvement of demolding performance

A-90 rubber thickener can form a lubricating film on the surface of the mold, reducing the adhesion between the rubber material and the mold, thereby improving the demolding efficiency and surface quality of the product. For example, in the production of seals, the addition of A-90 rubber thickener improves the surface smoothness of the product, reduces the burr rate by more than 50%, and reduces the subsequent polishing process.

3. Improved weather resistance: adapted to extreme environmental challenges

1. Enhanced aging resistance

Rubber products are susceptible to factors such as oxygen, ozone, and ultraviolet radiation during long-term use, leading to coating cracking and performance degradation. The saturated structure (such as carbon carbon single bonds) in the molecular chain of A-90 rubber thickener has excellent antioxidant properties and can significantly delay the aging rate of rubber. For example, adding A-90 rubber thickener to rubber products used in outdoor billboards can extend their UV aging resistance time to over 5 years, far exceeding traditional formulas.

2. Optimization of chemical corrosion resistance

A-90 rubber thickener has good resistance to chemicals such as acids, bases, and salts, which can protect the rubber substrate from corrosive media. For example, after adding A-90 rubber thickener to chemical pipeline seals, the expansion rate of the rubber material in acidic environments decreases by 60%, while the sealing performance remains stable.

3. Expansion of temperature resistance range

The softening point (90-110 ℃) and glass transition temperature (-40 ℃) of A-90 rubber thickener enable it to adapt to a wide temperature range of application scenarios. In high-temperature environments (such as engine compartment seals), it can maintain the flexibility of the rubber material and prevent hardening and cracking; In low-temperature environments (such as tires in the Arctic region), it can suppress the brittleness of the rubber material and ensure driving safety.

4. Cost effectiveness: Dual optimization of performance and economy

1. Reduction in raw material costs

Compared to traditional thickening resins such as C9 petroleum resin, A-90 rubber thickener has a wider range of raw material sources (mainly C5 and C9 fractions from petroleum cracking by-products) and mature production processes, making its price more competitive. For example, in the formula of the tread base rubber for heavy-duty tires, replacing C9 resin with an equal amount of A-90 rubber thickener can reduce raw material costs by 15-20%.

2. Production efficiency improvement

The optimization of processing performance of A-90 rubber thickener, such as reducing Mooney viscosity and prolonging coke burning time, can significantly shorten the production cycle, reduce equipment downtime and energy consumption. For example, in the production of bicycle inner tubes, the addition of A-90 rubber thickener shortened the production time of a single inner tube from 45 seconds to 35 seconds, resulting in a 22% increase in daily production.

3. Extended product lifespan

The improvement of rubber weather resistance and chemical corrosion resistance by A-90 rubber thickener can reduce the performance degradation and replacement frequency of products during use, thereby reducing the total life cycle cost. For example, after adding A-90 rubber thickener to the cover adhesive of the conveyor belt, its service life is extended from 3 years to 5 years, and maintenance costs are reduced by 40%.

A-90 rubber thickener has become an indispensable functional additive in the rubber industry due to its four core advantages of increased adhesion and reinforcement, optimized processing performance, improved weather resistance, and cost-effectiveness. From tires to seals, from conveyor belts to shoe soles, A-90 rubber thickener is driving the development of rubber products towards high performance, low cost, and sustainability through continuous technological iteration and application expansion. For rubber formula designers, a deep understanding of the characteristics and application logic of A-90 rubber thickener will be the key path to achieving a leap in product competitiveness.