Skip links

Rubber Trading

Rubber Products Trading

R1 is a formidable player in the rubber spectrum addressing the needs of the industry through its responsive and innovative solutions. The industry specific specialisation further leads us to excellence in our offerings, providing a scope to diversify into related products, thereby evolving us as a single stop solution to our customers.

Natural Rubber

Natural rubber, in its milky sap, is tapped from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree. Most of the latex is either processed into sheets or solid crumb rubber. It can also be kept in its liquid form through use of chemicals to prevent the latex from coagulation. In the solid form, the rubber sheets or crumbs are used in the manufacture of solid rubber based products, eg. tyres etc, while the liquid form is used for dipping products such as gloves, balloons and condoms.

Technically Specified Rubber (TSR)

Rubber grading under TSR was established in the early 1970s. The rubber is graded by its dirt, ash, nitrogen content, volatile matter content and plasticity retention index. They have good processing characteristics and physical properties. Usually, such grades of rubber are high in green strength, tack, easy to mix and has low viscosity.

Common sources of TSR include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, India etc. However quite recently the African and South American rubbers are gaining popularity. Most Asian countries have a nomenclature of labelling their standard rubbers with the country of their origin viz. Standard Malaysia Rubber as SMR, Standard Indonesia Rubber as SIR, Standard Thailand Rubber as STR and Standard Vietnam Rubber as SVR.

These are used in high performance passenger tyres, motorcycle and bicycle tyres, heavy load truck tyres, conveyor belt, inner tubes and hose.

The typical standard specifications of most common TSR grades are:

  TSR 5TSR 10TSR 20
ParameterUnitSIR 5SMR 5STR 5SVR 5SIR 10SMR 10STR 10SVR 10SIR 20SMR 20STR 20SVR 20
Dirt (max)%wt0.050.050.040.050.10.080.080.080.20.160.160.16
Ash (max)% wt0.50.60.60.50.750.750.60.6110.81
Nitrogen (max)% wt0.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.60.6
Volatile Matter (max)% wt0.80.80.80.80.80.80.80.80.80.80.80.8
Po (min) 303030303030303030303030
PRI index (min) 706060606050505050404040

Ribbed Smoked Sheets (RSS)

Ribbed Smoked Sheets, or Ribbed Smoked Sheets are commonly known as RSS. It can be graded into RSS1 to RSS5. The product can be packed in large bales of 111.11kg/bale or smaller bales of 35kg/bale or 33.33kg/bale size are commonly known as RSS. It can be graded into RSS1 to RSS5, with RSS1 as top grade. It is usually packed in large bales of 111.11kg/bale or 19 metric tons per 20 foot FCL.

The different grades are determined by the percentage of particles in the rubber sheet.

Grade Unacceptable Conditions Acceptable Conditions
RSS1 Oxidized spots, weak heated, under-cured, over-smoked, opaque and burnt sheet are not acceptable. Slight traces of dry mould on the packaging are acceptable but mould should not penetrate inside the bale. Small scattered pinhead bubbles are permissible.
RSS2 Oxidized spots, weak heated, under-cured, over-smoked, opaque and burnt sheet are not acceptable Slight traces of rust and dry mould on the packaging and interior sheets are acceptable but it should not be >5% of the bales sampled. Small bubbles and slight specks of bark are permissible.
RSS3 Oxidized spots, weak heated, under-cured, over-smoked, opaque and burnt sheet are not acceptable Slight traces of rust and dry mould on the packaging and interior sheets are acceptable but it should not be >10% of the bales sampled. Small bubbles, slight specks of bark, slight blemishes in colour are permissible.
RSS4 Oxidized spots, weak heated, under-cured, over-smoked (exceeding the degree shown in samples), opaque and burnt sheet are not acceptable Slight traces of rust and dry mould on the packaging and interior sheets are acceptable but it should not be >20% of the bales sampled. Medium sized black particles, bubbles, translucent stains, slightly sticky or over-smoked rubber are permissible.
RSS5 Oxidized spots, weak heated and burnt sheet are not acceptable Slight traces of rust and dry mould on the packaging and interior sheets are acceptable but it should not be >30% of the bales sampled. Large particles, bubbles or barks, small stains or blisters, slightly sticky, slightly under-cured or over-smoked rubber, blemishes are permissible.

Pale Crepe

Pale Crepe consists of carefully collected fresh liquid latex, deliberately coagulated and sometimes, bleached, milled, to produce crepe of a thickness corresponding approximately to standardized thickness.

There are a number of grades available in crepe rubber with the purest form being 1X Thick Pale Crepe (1XTPC) also known as1-Thick Pale Crepe (1TPC). Pale crepe is usually sold in 25kg bales with 32 bales packed onto a crated pallet of 800kgs, suitable for ocean worthy shipments in containers.

Pale crepe is used in FDA applications, medical supplies, footwear, cements and adhesives.

Latex

Latex is the thin stretchy material obtained by processing the sap of rubber plants. It can also be made synthetically by polymerizing a monomer that has been emulsified with surfactants.

Requirements of ISO 2004 for centrifuged and creamed natural rubber latex concentrates

Centrifuged
HA LA
Total solids content, %, minimum¹ 61.5 61.5
Dry rubber content, %, minimum 60.0 60.0
Non-rubber solids, %, maximum² 2.0 2.0
Ammonia, % on latex 0.6 0.29
minimum maximum
Mechanical stablity, s, minimum³ 650 650
Coagulum content, %, maximum 0.05 0.05
Copper, ppm, maximum* 8 8
Manganese, ppm, maximum* 8 8
Sludge content, %, maximum 0.10 0.10
Volatile fany acid (VFA) number As agreed between the interested parties but not to exceed 0.2
KOH number As agreed between the interested parties but not to exceed 1.0
Colour No pronounced blue or grey
Odour° No pronounced odour of putrefraction

¹Optional requirement.
²Difference between total solids and dry rubber content.
³Higher minimum values of mechanical stability may be agreed between the interested parties if desired.
*Based on total solids.
°After neutralization of ammonia with boric acid.

High Ammonia Latex Concentrate (HA Latex)

HA Latex is also known as Standard Ammonia, High Ammonia or Full Ammonia. It is a natural rubber latex concentrate obtained by centrifugation and preserved with a high amount of ammonia. It is the most common grade of latex used worldwide. It gives excellent films of high clarity and has good adhesion characteristics as a binding agent when suitably compounded.

HA Latex, after compounding, has a wide application especially in dipped products like medical or industrial gloves, rubber thread, balloons, prophylactics (condoms), tubing, finger cots, etc. It is also used as an adhesive for footballs, adhesive for bandages, castings on to a backing substrate, in wood lamination and for binding different types of materials.

HA Latex is packed in non-returnable, internal-lined metal drums of net weight 205kg or delivered in larger bulk quantities using appropriate tanks.

Low Ammonia Latex Concentrate (LATZ Latex)

LATZ Latex is the most common type of Low Ammonia Latex preserved in small amount of TMTD and Zinc Oxide. A natural rubber latex concentrate obtained by centrifugation and preserved with a low amount of ammonia, it is a general purpose latex widely used in many latex applications like foams, dipping, castings and adhesive bindings. It is more commonly used in colder climates where the factory floor is enclosed to maintain temperature and thus the lower level of ammonia content is desirable.

LATZ Latex, after compounding, has a wide application especially in dipped products like gloves, foam mattresses, reconstituted/reclaimed leather, balloons, shoe soles, mats etc. It is also used as an adhesive for casting on to a backing substrate, in wood lamination and for binding different types of materials.

Skim Block

Skim block is a by-product of latex production. It is a light coloured clean rubber, commonly used for rubber toys, rubber parts, rubber sheet, conveyor belts and shoe soles. It is suitable for products where the tear strength of the rubber is not critical.

We deal with all other grades of latex, like Medium Ammonia Latex, Double Centrifuged Latex, TSR CV and TSR L of multi-origin, pre-vulcanised latex, low protein latex concentrate, PA80 and SP50.

Synthetic Rubber

Synthetic rubber is an elastomer manufactured using petrochemicals. It can has excellent properties which can be managed to undergo much more elastic deformation under stress than most materials and still return to its previous size without permanent deformation. Synthetic rubber serves as a substitute for natural rubber in many cases, especially when improved material properties are needed. It is now an essential component in tyres manufacturing.

Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

SBR is predominantly used for the production of car and light truck tires and truck tire retread compounds. A complete list of the uses of SBR includes houseware mats, drain board trays, shoe sole and heels, chewing gum, food container sealants, tires, conveyor belts, sponge articles, adhesives and caulks, automobile mats, brake and clutch pads, hose, V- belts, flooring, military tank pads, hard rubber battery box cases, extruded gaskets, rubber toys, moulded rubber goods, shoe soling, cable insulation and jacketing, pharmaceutical, surgical, and sanitary products, food packaging, etc.

Nitrile Butadiene (NBR)

NBR is a form of synthetic rubber is generally inferior in strength and flexibility but has high level of resistance to oil, grease, fuel, and other chemicals. Its resilience makes NBR the perfect material for disposable lab, cleaning, and examination gloves.

In the automotive industry, it is used to make fuel and oil handling hoses, seals and grommets. NBR’s ability to withstand a range of temperatures from -40°C to +120°C makes it an ideal material for extreme automotive applications. It can also be used to create moulded goods, footwear, adhesives, sealants, sponge, belting and floor mats.

Poly Butadiene

Poly Butadiene is a synthetic rubber that has a high resistance to wear and is used especially in the manufacture of tyres. It has also been used to coat or encapsulate electronic assemblies, offering extremely high electrical resistance. It exhibits a recovery of 80% after stress is applied, a value only exceeded by elastin and resilin.

The major use of polybutadiene is in tyres with over 70% of the polymer produced going into treads and sidewalls. Cured BR imparts excellent abrasion resistance (good tread wear), and low rolling resistance (good fuel economy). Polybutadiene is usually blended with other elastomers like natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber for tread compounds. Other applications include polystyrene for injection molding applications and golf balls.

Butyl

Because of butyl polymers’ unique characteristics, barrier properties – high damping, resistance to ozone, heat and chemicals; very low permeability to air, gases and moisture; butyl is ideal for many applications in tyres and automotive, healthcare and medical equipment, industrial and construction, adhesive and even chewing gum! Butyl rubber is, in fact, the only rubber that is impermeable to air.

In the tyres and automotive industries, butyl polymers are used for innerliner, non-staining black sidewall, white sidewall, treading compound, heat resistant hose and dynamic parts including the body mounts. In medical industry, it can be found in protective clothing and closures for bottles.

It is also used in tank linings, conveyors belts and condenser packing. Added to asphalt compositions, it improves the weathering and low temperature properties of asphalt, increase toughness, impact and abrasion resistance. It is used extensively in manufacturing of roofing materials.

EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomers)

EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene rubber) is an elastomer which is characterized by wide range of applications. EPDM rubber is used in automotive weather-stripping and seals, radiators, garden and appliance hose, tubing, washers, belts, electrical insulations, roofing membrane, geo-membranes, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification, thermoplastic vulcanizates and motor oil additive applications.

Silicone Rubber

Silicone Rubber is used in mechanical engineering like shaft sealing rings, spark plug caps, radiator and automotive heating hoses, O-rings, corona and embossing roller gaskets, window and door seals, expansion joints etc. It is also used in electrical engineering application, for cables and cable terminations, corona-resistant insulation tubing, keyboards and contact mats, conductive profiled seals.

Its usage in medical applications includes tubing for dialysis and transfusion equipment, bellows for artificial respirators, catheters, dummies for babies.

Neoprene Rubber / Polychloroprene Rubber

Neoprene rubber is one of the best all-purpose elastomers where resistance to ozone, sunlight, oxidation and many petroleum derivatives are of prime importance. Its added advantages include good resistance to water, many chemicals, good resilience characteristics and tensile strength properties. It is often found in moulds and extruded rubber products.

Special-purpose rubber

We also trade in special-purpose rubbers such as Polyacrylic rubber (ABR), Epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), Polysulfide Rubber Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSM).
This website uses cookies to improve your web experience.
Home
Account
Cart
Search