Abstract
The uses of rubber linings in different fields/industries are discussed. The physical properties of rubber both natural and synthetic rubber are listed and their importance is evaluated.. The aging of rubber is discussed in detail, including effects of temperature on aging of rubber.
By virtue of its inherent elasticity and chemical resistance, rubber linings have found many uses in the protection of mining equipment, water treatment tanks and vessels, flue gas desulfurization equipment in power plants and varied process and storage vessels in chemical industries. Rubber has found extensive use in civil engineering field as expansion joints and bladders in dams. Electric resistance of rubber is useful for its application as an insulating material. Rubber is chemically resistant to acids, alkalies any many salt solutions. Rubber linings are therefore used for protection of steel against these acids, alkalies or salt solutions.
The extreme elasticity of rubber has been found useful in its application as a lining material in areas subject to high abrasion. Frequently rubber linings are the linings of choice when a combination of abrasion and chemical attack are to be protected against.
Constantly, new formulations of rubber lining compounds are being developed just as new chemical processes are being made. The flexibility of compounding and the relative ease of putting layers of different rubber formulations together in multi-layered formulations of rubber lining compounds is leading to new uses of this lining material.