For bringing different properties like durability, resistance against
heat and light reinforcement capacity etc., in the rubber products,
different types of pigments are applied. Some of the pigments that are
applied/used in the rubber industry are:
Organic Pigment Powders
Used to develop other specific properties in the rubber made products.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide are used during the application process of rubber because
these pigments have some good qualities. These good qualities are: high
refractive index, consistency in the size of the particles, dispersibility,
and high ultra violet ray resistance.
Carbon Black
Carbon Black is a type of pigment which is derived from the refinery
process of petroleum. In tyre manufacturing process, it is used for
producing high resistance, abrasion and longevity and grip.
Carbon black has wide variety of applications in different kind of rubber
products. This range of rubber products starts from aerospace to ordinary
household products.
Florescent Pigments
Florescent is a kind of bright pigment and its powder form i.e. called as
Powder Color is used in the rubber industry. This kind of pigments may be
both organic and inorganic nature. The proper color selection depends
primarily upon some requirements of the manufacturers such as: light
stability, heat stability, resistance to bleed, resistance to migration and
required shade.
Molybdenum Pigment
Molybdenum Pigment is used in the Rubber Industry. These pigments are
light, heat stable and having bright color range from bright red-orange to
red-yellow. Apart of rubber products, these pigments are also used in
ceramics, plastic, paints and inks. The other kind of pigments that is known
as Ultramarine pigments, are also used for rubber products. These pigments
have high heat resistance, light and weather resistance.
Bifunctional Organic Silicon Compounds
The pigments which are used in the rubber industry, are generally
bifunctional organic silicon compounds. These compounds have two reactive
groups. For high quality rubber compounds, these pigments are used. When
this kind of pigments are used in the rubber industry combined with sinaloan
group-carrying pigments, then the effectiveness will become more effective.
Cadmium Pigments
Cadmium pigments have no major application in rubber industry, but, for
many minor purposes, these pigments are used in the rubber industry.
Zinc Oxide is used in rubber industry since its
inception. The great importance of zinc oxide to rubber industry is due to
so many optical, physical and chemical properties of zinc oxide. Tyres, for
heavy pneumatic duty and durability, require high loading of zinc oxide for
high heat conductivity as well as reinforcement since heat building is
critical at their higher operating speeds.
In the curing process for most kinds of synthetic rubber sand natural
rubber, the chemical reactivity of zinc oxide is required for activating the
organic accelerator.
Some special properties of Zinc Oxide that make it popular for the rubber
industry are:
Rubber - Metal Bonding
Zinc oxide reacts with copper oxide for the bonding of rubber to brass.
Hear Stabilization
Zinc oxide has a very high stability (resistance) of heat. So, when it is
used for tyre manufacturing, then tyres become more stable and durable even
at the high temperature.
Latex Gelation
It gives enough stability in the gelation of foam, when latex foam rubber
product is manufactured.
Pigmentation
As zinc oxide has high brightness, high refractive index and proper
particle size, so, when this pigment is mixed with rubber products, then the
products will become more whitish. This pigment is specially used in rubber
made medical surgery equipments, rubber sheeting and side walls of the tyre.
Reinforcement
Natural rubber gets reinforcement from these pigments.
Light Stabilization
Out of all other white pigments, Zinc oxide has the maximum capability to
absorb the Ultra Violet rays. So, when it is used with the rubber tyres,
then the rubber tyres get extra stability to the destructive sunlight. Zinc
oxide is specially used with the white colored tyre and tinted rubber
because these rubbers required extra stability.