Characteristics of rubber

Rubber is used all around us.

Rubber is used all around us.
For example, a wide range of rubber bands, tyres, water gaskets and anti-vibration rubber are used in daily life.
Here are three unique characteristics of these daily-use rubbers to give you an idea of what they are like.

Feature 1: Largely deformable

The first is characterised by large deformations.
The structure is a three-dimensional mesh network of polymers, which can be significantly deformed.
The small force allows for large deformations of several hundred % or more.
It is a solid substance, yet very soft.
The only thing around us that can easily be stretched by more than 100%= twice, such as rubber bands, is rubber.

Feature 2: Deformation returns to original form

The second feature is that the deformation returns to its original state when the force is removed.
Even if a large deformation of several hundred % occurs, the shape is instantly restored when the force is removed.
Like the first feature, this is also a feature of rubber elasticity, which comes from the three-dimensional mesh network structure.
For example, vinyl or kneaded candy, which can be easily deformed, will not return to its original state even if the force is removed.

Feature 3: High mechanical strength

A third feature is high mechanical strength.
The material is not destroyed by the application of strong forces and has a higher strength than plastics and other materials.

Summary

These are three unique characteristics of rubber.
Rubber is characterised by its flexibility and resilience, a rubber elasticity that is unique to rubber, but also by its high strength.
Take a look around you at these characteristics.
There are many things that are only possible because of rubber. Think if it wasn't rubber... or conversely, if this was rubber.