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Sample report for adhesive category. Other reports may vary in format.
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| 15.15xEA - Natural Rubber - European Adhesives
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Natural rubber in this study includes information on all grades, milled and unmilled. It is a naturally-occurring polyisoprene elastomer recovered from the sap of rubber trees (hevea brasiliensis) and certain other trees and plants. Natural rubber is generally noted for its excellent flexibility and resiliency, but exhibits poor resistance to solvent and oxidative attack. The majority of the world’s natural rubber comes from Southeast Asia and is generally supplied in solid form or as alkali-stabilized latex.
For solvent-based adhesives, the solid natural rubber is usually masticated on a two-roll mill prior to being dissolved in hydrocarbon solvents. Although it is possible to prepare solutions of unmilled natural rubber, milling reduces gels, thereby improving viscosity, stability, uniformity and speed of dissolving. These adhesive types are commonly formulated with rosin or hydrocarbon tackifiers, antioxidants and fillers. Major end use markets for solvent-based natural rubber adhesives include consumer products (i.e., do-it-yourself and stationery adhesives) and pressure sensitive industrial, masking and consumer tapes.
Water borne adhesives based on natural rubber latex, available commercially at approximately 60% solids, are widely used for carpet backing and carpet installation, self-sealing envelopes, and flooring and tile bonding. The rubber latex is commonly formulated with thickeners, such as cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol, tackifiers, such as aqueous dispersions of hydrocarbon tackifiers or high boiling hydrocarbon solvents, inorganic fillers, and alkali viscosity stabilizers. Additionally, fungicides are frequently included to prevent bacterial attack.
Natural rubber (NR) has enjoyed a unique position in solvent based, and to some extent, in water based adhesives for many years. As a natural product, sourced from remote, undeveloped economies subject to political insurrection, exhibiting wild swings in price and packaged in less-than-optimum formats, it does not fit the profile of every technical manager’s ideal raw material. In spite of all these disadvantages, NR is still a significant adhesive polymer, primarily in pressure sensitive tapes. This resin classification report on natural rubber estimates 2003 demand with a historical perspective back to 1998 as well as forecasts through 2008 within the Europe / European Adhesives Industry. |
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| Report Table of Contents |
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Natural Rubber Report - Europe / European Adhesives Industry - RAW MATERIAL Market
Market Information - Forecasting Size and Growth Trends
Regional Information - Forecasting Trends
Market Segmentation Information and Driving Forces
Formulative Technology Information – Forecasting Size and Growth Trends
Growth Opportunities – Size and Growth Trend
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