Polyisobutylene Applications

Polyiso thoylene ApplicationsFuel and lubri fuckingt additive. Polyisobutylene (in the form of polyisobutylene succinimide) has interesting properties when apply as an additive in lubricating petroleums and motor fuels. Polyisobutylene added in grim amounts to the lubricating oils apply in machining results in a signifi washbowlt reduction in the generation of oil mist and thus reduces the operators inhalation of oil mist.2 It is in like manner utilise to idle up waterborne oil spills as array of the commercial intersection point Elastol. When added to crude oil it increases the oils viscoelasticity when pulled, causing the oil to resist breakup when it is vacuumed from the jump of the water.As a fuel additive, polyisobutylene has purifying properties. When added to diesel fuel, it resists fouling of fuel injectors, leading(p) to reduced hydro cytosine and particulate emissions.3 It is blended with an separate(prenominal) detergents and additives to make a detergent mobag e that is added to gasoline and diesel fuel to resist buildup of deposits and engine knock.4Polyisobutylene is practiced in al approximately formulations as a thickening agent.editSporting equipmentButyl safety device is employ for the bladders in basketballs, footballs, soccer balls and other inflatable balls to provide a laborious, gas-tight cozy compartment.editRoof RepairButyl good-for-nothing sealant is apply for meritless cover repair and for maintenance of pileus membranes (especially around the edges). It is outstanding to have the roof membrane fixed, as a lot of fixtures (i.e., air conditi integrityr vents, plumbing and other pipes, etc.) locoweed considerably loosen it. safety roofing typically refers to a specific type of roofing real(a)s that be made of ethene propene diene monomers (EPDM). It is crucial to the integrity of such roofs to avoid using harsh nettle both(prenominal) materials and petroleum-based solvents for their maintenance.Polyester fabri c laminated to butyl condom binder provides a single-sided waterproof tape that rump buoy be use on coat, PVC, and cement joints. It is humorl for repairing and waterproofing metal roofs.editGas masks and chemical agent protectionButyl gumshoe is one of the most big-shouldered elastomers when subjected to chemical warf atomic number 18 agents and decontamination materials. It is a harder and less porous material than other elastomers, such as graphic galosh or silicone, but put a behavior has enough elasticity to form an airtight seal. eyepatch butyl safe forgeting break down when exposed to agents such as NH3 (ammonia) or true solvents, it breaks down to a greater extent s littlely than comparable elastomers. It is accordingly used to ready seals in gas masks and other protective clothing.editChewing gumMolecular social organization dick Chemical StructureIntroduction to meritless chemical anatomical anatomical structureIn the organic chemistry section of chemi stry ,we learn healthy-nigh the various polymers , monomers,elastomers etc.Monomer is a single unit and when huge number of monomers argon combined or say polymerised whence polymers atomic number 18 organise.The surgery of revolution of monomer to polymer is surviven as p-olymerisation.Elastomer is an another category of polymers having a specific properties of indemnification of its structure even if it is orbited.Rubber comes chthonic the category of elastomer.In general life dick has variety of uses.the important dimension of hawkshaw is that it regains its structure even if it is stretched.Stretching can be done up to a certain repair.If it is stretched beyond limit then it can break.Rubber can be entrap in devil forms1)Natural rubber 2)Synthetic RubberNatural rubber is a configuration of rubber which which is found directly from the nature.And when the indispensable rubber is processed under some chemical processes then a new kind of rubber is formed ,this ru bber is known as unreal rubber.We can as well say that essential rubber atomic number 18 tax deductioned from the natural rubber.Both this rubber ar of great use because of its specific features.Structure of rubberMain piece of writing of crude rubber is hydrocarbons.It as well as contains some proteins and materials which atomic number 18 soluble in acetone.The hydrocarbons which possess the properties of rubber are usually high in molecular(a) weight and it ranges from 45000 to 3000000.Isoprene is a monomer of natural rubber.When huge number of isoprene units are polymerised then a polymer is formed .Cis and Trans Configuration of RubberThe cis configuration of the natural rubber is the reason for the rubber properties in it. Cis configuration fashion that lengthening of the ambit is on the same side of the ethylene beat.If the configuration is trans, it means that the extension of cooking stove is on the both sides of ethylene bond,then it is a hard plastic.In q uality of trans it does not show the properties of rubber.Synthetic rubber is of great use in the industry. slightly of the widely used artificial substance rubber are butyl rubber which is formed by the copolymerisation of isobutylene and a little amount isoprene.Another semisynthetic rubber is phenylethylene Butadiene Rubber in any case known as SBR.Buna N and buna S is also a kind of synthetic rubber often use in the industry.Vulcanisation of RubberIn the rubber molecules the cross linking between the bondage are truly(prenominal) less.This leads to the softness in the rubber .To make the rubber hard some chemicals are added to it.The process is known as vulcanisation.In this process the natural rubber is treated with some chemicals ,more often chemical used is sulphur.When sulphur reacts with the natural rubber then it increases the cross linking between the molecules in the rubber.It also forms legion(predicate) sulphide bonds.Due to formation of many new crosslinking s and many sulphide bonds the natural rubber contracts hard.Natural rubber is a kind of thermoplastic,it means that it becomes soft when it is subjected to heat and it becomes hard when it is subjected to cold.butyl rubber (IIR), also called isobutylene-isoprene rubber, a synthetic rubber produced by copolymerizing isobutylene with small amounts of isoprene. Valued for its chemical inertness, impermeability to gases, and weatherability, butyl rubber is employed in the inner linings of automobile expels and in other military posture applications.Both isobutylene (CCH32=CH2) and isoprene (CH2=CCH3-CH=CH2) are usually obtained by the thermal cracking of natural gas or of the lighter splits of crude oil. At normal temperature and crush isobutylene is a gas and isoprene is a volatile liquid. For processing into IIR, isobutylene, refrigerated to very low temperatures ( around 100 C one hundred fifty F), is diluted with methyl chloride. mortified concentrations (1.5 to 4.5 percent) of isoprene are added in the presence of aluminum chloride, which initiates the reaction in which the cardinal compounds copolymerize (i.e., their single-unit molecules link unneurotic to form giant, multiple-unit molecules). The polymer restate units have the pursuit structuresBecause the base polymer, polyisobutylene, is stereo uninterrupted (i.e., its pendant groups are arranged in a regular order a bulky the polymer manacles) and because the twines crystallize rapidly on stretching, IIR containing lonesome(prenominal) a small amount of isoprene is as strong as natural rubber. In addition, because the copolymer contains few unsaturated groups ( represented by the carbon-carbon double bond find in each isoprene repeating unit), IIR is comparatively resistant to oxidation-a process by which oxygen in the atmosphere reacts with the double bonds and breaks the polymer manacles, thereby degrading the material. Butyl rubber also shows an signally low rate of molecular motion well above the glass transition temperature (the temperature above which the molecules are no bimestrial frozen in a hard,glassy state). This lack of motion is reflected in the copolymers unusually low permeability to gases as well as in its cracking resistance to attack by ozone.The copolymer is recovered from the solvent as a crumb, which can be compounded with fillers and other modifiers and then throwd into concrete rubber products. Owing to its thin air retention, butyl rubber is the preferred material for inner tubes in all but the largest sizes. It also plays an important part in the inner liners of tubeless tires. (Because of poor tread durability, all-butyl tires have not proved successful.) IIR is also used for many other automobile components, including windowpane strips, because of its resistance to oxidation. Its resistance to heat has made it indispensable in tire manufacture, where it forms the bladders that retain the steam or hot water used to vulcanize tire s.Bromine or chlorine can be added to the small isoprene fraction of IIR to make BIIR or CIIR (known as halobutyls). The properties of these polymers are alike(p) to those of IIR, but they can be cured more rapidly and with different and smaller amounts of remediation agents. As a result, BIIR and CIIR can be cocured more readily in contact with other elastomers making up a rubber product.Butyl rubber was first produced by American chemists William Sparks and Robert doubting Thomas at the Standard oil Company of New Jersey (nowExxon Corporation) in 1937. Earlier attempts to produce synthetic rubbers had involved the polymerization of dienes (hydrocarbon molecules containing two carbon-carbon double bonds) such as isoprene and butadiene. Sparks and Thomas defied convention by copolymerizing isobutylene, an olefin (hydrocarbon molecules containing only(prenominal) one carbon-carbon double bond) with small amounts-e.g., less than 2 percent-of isoprene. As a diene, isoprene provided the extra double bond required to cross-link the otherwise inert polymer chains, which were essentially polyisobutylene. Before data-based difficulties were resolved, butyl rubber was called futile butyl, but with improvements it enjoyed wide acceptance for its low permeability to gases and its excellent resistance to oxygen and ozone at normal temperatures. During World state of war IIthe copolymer was called GR-I, for Government Rubber-Isobutylene.LINKSRelated ArticlesTop of FormPolymers1. Introduction anterior to the early 1920s, chemists doubted the existence of molecules having molecular weights greater than a few thousand. This passing view was challenged by Hermann Staudinger, a German chemist with experience in studying natural compounds such as rubber and cellu drop away. In demarcation to the prevailing rationalization of these substances as hoards of small molecules, Staudinger proposed they were made up of macromolecules imperturbable of 10,000 or more atoms. He for mulated a polymeric structure for rubber, based on a repeating isoprene unit (referred to as a monomer). For his contributions to chemistry, Staudinger received the 1953 Nobel Prize. The terms polymer and monomer were derived from the Greek roots poly (many), mono (one) and meros (part).Recognition that polymeric macromolecules make up many important natural materials was followed by the fundament of synthetic analogs having a variety of properties. Indeed, applications of these materials as fibers, flexible films, adhesives, resistant paints and tough but light unbendables have transformed modern society. Some important examples of these substances are discussed in the following sections.art2. Writing Formulas for Polymeric MacromoleculesThe repeating geomorphological unit of most simple polymers not only reflects the monomer(s) from which the polymers are constructed, but also provides a concise means for drawing structures to represent these macromolecules. For polythene, argu ably the simplest polymer, this is demonstrated by the following equation. present ethylene (ethene) is the monomer, and the synonymous linear polymer is called high-density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE is composed of macromolecules in which n ranges from 10,000 to 100,000 (molecular weight 2*105 to 3 *106 ).If Y and Z represent moles of monomer and polymer respectively, Z is approximately 10-5 Y. This polymer is called polyethylene rather than polymethylene, (-CH2-)n, because ethylene is a stable compound (methylene is not), and it also serves as the synthetic precursor of the polymer. The two open bonds remaining at the ends of the foresightful chain of carbons (colored magenta) are normally not specified, because the atoms or groups found there depend on the chemical process used for polymerization. The synthetic methods used to prepare this and other polymers will be described later in this chapter. Unlike simpler slight compounds, most polymers are not composed of identical molecules. The HDPE molecules, for example, are all long carbon chains, but the lengths may vary by thousands of monomer units. Because of this, polymer molecular weights are usually given as averages. Two experimentally determined value are common Mn , the number average molecular weight, is calculated from the mole fraction dispersal of different sized molecules in a adjudicate, and Mw , the weight average molecular weight, is calculated from the weight fraction distribution of different sized molecules. These are defined below. Since larger molecules in a sample weigh more than smaller molecules, the weight average Mw is necessarily skewed to higher values, and is constantly greater than Mn. As the weight dispersion of molecules in a sample narrows, Mw approaches Mn, and in the unlikely case that all the polymer molecules have identical weights (a pure mono-disperse sample), the ratio Mw / Mn becomes unity.The influence of different mass distributions on Mn and Mw may be exam ined with the aid of a simple mass calculator. To use this device Click Here.Many polymeric materials having chain-like structures similar to polyethylene are known. Polymers formed by a straightforward linking together of monomer units, with no want or gain of material, are called addition polymers or chain-growth polymers. A lean of some important addition polymers and their monomer precursors is presented in the following table.Some reciprocal Addition PolymersName(s)FormulaMonomerPropertiesUsesPolyethylenelow density (LDPE)-(CH2-CH2)n-ethyleneCH2=CH2soft, elastic hardfilm wrap, plastic bagsPolyethylenehigh density (HDPE)-(CH2-CH2)n-ethyleneCH2=CH2rigid, translucent solidelectrical insulationbottles, toysPoly propylene(PP) different grades-CH2-CH(CH3)n-propyleneCH2=CHCH3atactic soft, elastic solidisotactic hard, strong solidsimilar to LDPEcarpet, upholsteryPoly( vinyl group chloride)(PVC)-(CH2-CHCl)n-vinyl chlorideCH2=CHClstrong rigid solidpipes, siding, flooringPoly(vinylid ene chloride)(Saran A)-(CH2-CCl2)n-vinylidene chlorideCH2=CCl2dense, high-melting solidseat covers, filmsPoly cinnamene(PS)-CH2-CH(C6H5)n-vinylbenzeneCH2=CHC6H5hard, rigid, clear solidsoluble in organic solventstoys, cabinetspackaging (foamed)Polypropenonitrile(PAN, Orlon, Acrilan)-(CH2-CHCN)n-acrylonitrileCH2=CHCNhigh-melting solidsoluble in organic solventsrugs, blanketsclothingPolytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE, Teflon)-(CF2-CF2)n-tetrafluoroethyleneCF2=CF2resistant, limpid solidnon-stick surfaceselectrical insulationPoly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA, Lucite, Plexiglas)-CH2-C(CH3)CO2CH3n-methyl methacrylateCH2=C(CH3)CO2CH3hard, transparent solid fervor covers, signsskylightsPoly(vinyl acetate)(PVAc)-(CH2-CHOCOCH3)n-vinyl acetateCH2=CHOCOCH3soft, sticky solidlatex paints, adhesivescis-Polyisoprenenatural rubber-CH2-CH=C(CH3)-CH2n-isopreneCH2=CH-C(CH3)=CH2soft, sticky solidrequires vulcanizationfor practical usePolychloroprene (cis + trans)(Neoprene)-CH2-CH=CCl-CH2n-chloropreneCH2=CH-CCl=C H2tough, rubbery solidsynthetic rubberoil resistant3. Properties of MacromoleculesA comparison of the properties of polyethylene (both LDPE HDPE) with the natural polymers rubber and cellu fall asleep is instructive. As noted above, synthetic HDPE macromolecules have mass ranging from 105 to 106 amu (LDPE molecules are more than a hundred times smaller). Rubber and cellulose molecules have similar mass ranges, but fewer monomer units because of the monomers larger size. The somatogenic properties of these three polymeric substances differ from each other, and of course from their monomers. HDPE is a rigid translucent solid which softens on heating above 100 C, and can be fashioned into various forms including films. It is not as slowly stretched and ill-shapen as is LDPE. HDPE is insoluble in water and most organic solvents, although some swelling may occur on immersion in the latter. HDPE is an excellent electrical insulator. LDPE is a soft translucent solid which deforms bad ly above 75 C. Films made from LDPE stretch easily and are commonly used for wrapping. LDPE is insoluble in water, but softens and swells on exposure to hydrocarbon solvents. Both LDPE and HDPE become brickly at very low temperatures (below -80 C). Ethylene, the common monomer for these polymers, is a low boiling (-104 C) gas. Natural (latex) rubber is an opaque, soft, easily deformable solid that becomes sticky when alter (above. 60 C), and brittle when cooled below -50 C. It swells to more than double its size in nonpolar organic solvents like toluene, ultimately dissolving, but is impermeable to water. The C5H8 monomer isoprene is a volatile liquid (b.p. 34 C). Pure cellulose, in the form of cotton, is a soft flexible fiber, essentially unchanged by variations in temperature ranging from -70 to 80 C. Cotton absorbs water readily, but is unaffected by immersion in toluene or most other organic solvents. Cellulose fibers may be bent and twisted, but do not stretch much before b reaking. The monomer of cellulose is the C6H12O6aldohexose D-glucose. Glucose is a water soluble solid melting below 150 C.To account for the differences noted here we need to consider the nature of the aggregate macromolecular structure, or morphology, of each substance. Because polymer molecules are so large, they generally pack together in a non-uniform fashion, with ordered or lucid-like regions mixed together with disordered or amorphous domains. In some cases the entire solid may be amorphous, composed entirely of coiled and tangled macromolecular chains. Crystallinity occurs when linear polymer chains are structurally oriented in a uniform three-dimensional matrix. In the diagram on the right on, crystalline domains are colored blue. Increased crystallinity is associated with an increase in rigidity, tensile strength and opacity (due to light scattering). Amorphous polymers are usually less rigid, weaker and more easily deformed. They are often transparent.Three factors th at influence the detail of crystallinity are i) fibril length ii) Chain branching iii) Interchain bondingThe importance of the first two factors is nicely illustrated by the differences between LDPE and HDPE. As noted earlier, HDPE is composed of very long unbranched hydrocarbon chains. These pack together easily in crystalline domains that alternate with amorphous segments, and the resulting material, while relatively strong and stiff, retains a degree of flexibility. In contrast, LDPE is composed of smaller and more highly branched chains which do not easily come after crystalline structures. This material is therefore softer, weaker, less dense and more easily deformed than HDPE. As a rule, mechanical properties such as ductility, tensile strength, and hardness rise and eventually level off with increasing chain length.The nature of cellulose supports the above compend and demonstrates the importance of the third factor (iii). To begin with, cellulose chains easily adopt a st able rod-like descriptor. These molecules align themselves side by side into fibers that are stabilized by inter-chain hydrogen bonding between the three hydroxyl groups on each monomer unit. Consequently, crystallinity is high and the cellulose molecules do not move or slip relative to each other. The high concentration of hydroxyl groups also accounts for the facile absorption of water that is characteristic of cotton.Natural rubber is a completely amorphous polymer. Unfortunately, the potentially useful properties of raw latex rubber are limited by temperature dependence however, these properties can be limited by chemical change. The cis-double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain provide planar segments that stiffen, but do not straighten the chain. If these rigid segments are completely take away by hydrogenation (H2 Pt catalyst), the chains lose all constrainment, and the product is a low melting paraffin-like semisolid of little value. If instead, the chains of rubber molecule s are slightly cross-linked by sulfur atoms, a process called vulcanization which was observe by Charles Goodyear in 1839, the desirable elastomeric properties of rubber are substantially improved. At 2 to 3% crosslinking a useful soft rubber, that no long-acting suffers stickiness and brittleness problems on heating and cooling, is obtained. At 25 to 35% crosslinking a rigid hard rubber product is formed. The following illustration shows a cross-linked section of amorphous rubber. By mark offing on the diagram it will change to a display of the corresponding stretched section. The more highly-ordered chains in the stretched conformation are entropically unstable and return to their original coiled state when allowed to slack off (clink a routine time).On heating or cooling most polymers undergo thermal transitions that provide insight into their morphology. These are defined as the melt transition, Tm , and the glass transition, Tg .Tm is the temperature at which crystalline d omains lose their structure, or melt. As crystallinity increases, so does Tm.Tg is the temperature below which amorphous domains lose the structural mobility of the polymer chains and become rigid glasses.Tg often depends on the history of the sample, in particular previous heat treatment, mechanical manipulation and annealing. It is sometimes interpreted as the temperature above which signifi weight portions of polymer chains are able to slide gone each other in response to an applied force. The introduction of relatively large and stiff substituents (such as benzene rings) will interfere with this chain movement, thus increasing Tg (note polystyrene below). The introduction of small molecular compounds called plasticizers into the polymer matrix increases the interchain spacing, allowing chain movement at lower temperatures. with a resulting decrease in Tg. The outgassing of plasticizers used to modify interior plastic components of automobiles produces the new-car smell to whic h we are accustomed.Tm and Tg values for some common addition polymers are listed below. Note that cellulose has neither a Tm nor a Tg.PolymerLDPEHDPEPPPVCPSPANPTFEPMMARubberTm (C)11013017518017520033018030Tg (C)_110_100_10 80 90 95_110 105_70Rubber is a phallus of an important group of polymers called elastomers. Elastomers are amorphous polymers that have the ability to stretch and then return to their original shape at temperatures above Tg. This property is important in applications such as gaskets and O-rings, so the development of synthetic elastomers that can function under harsh or demanding conditions remains a practical goal. At temperatures below Tg elastomers become rigid glassy solids and lose all elasticity. A tragic example of this caused the space shuttle contest disaster. The heat and chemical resistant O-rings used to seal sections of the solid athletic supporter rockets had an unfortunately high Tg near 0 C. The unexpectedly low temperatures on the morning of t he launch were below this Tg, allowing hot rocket gases to escape the seals.CopolymersThe synthesis of macromolecules composed of more than one monomeric repeating unit has been explored as a means of controlling the properties of the resulting material. In this respect, it is useful to distinguish several shipway in which different monomeric units might be incorporated in a polymeric molecule. The following examples refer to a two component system, in which one monomer is designated A and the other B.Statistical CopolymersAlso called random copolymers. Here the monomeric units are distributed randomly, and sometimes unevenly, in the polymer chain ABBAAABAABBBABAABA.Alternating CopolymersHere the monomeric units are distributed in a regular alternating fashion, with nearly equimolar amounts of each in the chain ABABABABABABABAB.Block CopolymersInstead of a mixed distribution of monomeric units, a long sequence or block of one monomer is joined to a block of the second monomer AAAAA -BBBBBBBAAAAAAABBB.Graft CopolymersAs the name suggests, side chains of a given monomer are attached to the main chain of the second monomer AAAAAAA(BBBBBBB)AAAAAAA(BBBB)AAA.1. Addition CopolymerizationMost direct copolymerizations of equimolar compartmentalisations of different monomers give statistical copolymers, or if one monomer is much more reactive a nearly homopolymer of that monomer. The copolymerization of styrene with methyl methacrylate, for example, proceeds differently depending on the mechanism. Radical polymerization gives a statistical copolymer. However, the product of cationic polymerization is largely polystyrene, and anionic polymerization favors formation of poly(methyl methacrylate). In cases where the relative reactivities are different, the copolymer composition can sometimes be controlled by continuous introduction of a biased mixture of monomers into the reaction. Formation of alternating copolymers is favored when the monomers have different polar substi tuents (e.g. one electron withdrawing and the other electron donating), and both have similar reactivities toward radicals. For example, styrene and acrylonitrile copolymerize in a largely alternating fashion.Some Useful CopolymersMonomer AMonomer BCopolymerUsesH2C=CHClH2C=CCl2Saranfilms fibersH2C=CHC6H5H2C=C-CH=CH2SBRstyrene butadiene rubbertiresH2C=CHCNH2C=C-CH=CH2Nitrile RubberadhesiveshosesH2C=C(CH3)2H2C=C-CH=CH2Butyl Rubberinner tubesF2C=CF(CF3)H2C=CHFVitongasketsA terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, called ABS rubber, is used for high-impact containers, pipes and gaskets.For polyisobutylene at a glance, click herePolyisobutylene is a synthetic rubber, or elastomer. Its special because its the only rubber thats gas impermeable, that is, its the only rubber that can hold air for long periods of time. You may have noticed that balloons will go flat after a few days. This is because they are made of polyisoprene, which is not gas impermeable. Because polyisobutyle ne will hold air, it is used to make things like the inner liner of tires, and the inner liners of basketballs.Polyisobutylene, sometimes called butyl rubber, and other times PIB, is a vinyl polymer. Its very similar to polyethylene and polypropylene in structure, except that each other carbon is substituted with two methyl groups. It is made from the monomer isobutylene, by cationic vinyl polymerization.And this is that monomer isobutyleneUsually, a small amount of isoprene is added to the isobutylene. The polymerization is carried out at a right frosty -100 oC, or -148 oF for you Americans out there. This is because the reaction is so fast we cant control it unless we freeze it colder than a brass toilet seat in the Yukon.Polyisobutylene was first developed during the early 1940s. At that time, the most widely used rubber was natural rubber, polyisoprene. Polyisoprene was an excellent elastomer, and easy to isolate from the sap of the genus Hevea tree. Huge plantations thrived in Malaysia and grew hevea trees to supply the worlds rubber needs. There was only one slight problem, and that was that Malaysia had just been conquered by the Imperial Japanese Army, and wouldnt you know we just so happened to be fighting the Second World contend against them right at that moment. Before the war was over more than sixty million people would be dead. Deprived of natural rubber, the Allied nations did some quick thinking and came up with PIB. It obviously worked, because the Allies won the war.Ok, we didnt in truth invent polyisobutylene during the war. It had been invented long before the war by chemists in Germany. Theres ridicule But it wasnt very useful until American chemists came up with a way to crosslink it. What they did was to copolymerize isobutylene with a little bit, say, around one percent, isoprene. This is isopreneWhen isoprene is polymerized with the isobutylene we get a polymer that looks like thisAbout one or two out of every hundred repeat units is an isoprene unit, shown in blue. These have double bonds, which means the polymer can be crosslinked byvulcanization just like natural rubber. What is this vulcanization? To find out, click here.Stealing Vulcans FireThere was a time long preceding(a) when the only rubber we had was natural rubber latex, polyisoprene. Straight out of the tree, natural rubber latex isnt good for much. It gets runny and sticky when it gets warm, and it gets hard and brittle when its cold. Tires made out of it wouldnt be much good unless one lived in some happy land where the temperature was seventy degrees year round.A long time agohow long, you ask? It was about a hundred and sixty days ago, 1839 to be exact. This was before there were any cars to need tires, but the idea of a useable rubber was still attractive. One person onerous to make rubber more useful was named Charles Goodyear, a tinkerer and inventor, and by no means a successful one at this point. While goofing around in his kitchen w ith a piece of fabric coated with a m