Butyl Rubber And Bubble Gum

Butyl rubber has unique properties. The most important property of butyl rubber is that it is the best sealant of all the known rubbers.

The major application of butyl rubber is in the lining of tires. It formerly was used to make the inner tube of the tire, but now that there are tubeless tires butyl rubber is incorporated into the tire on the inside. It is a good thing that a rubber such as this was discovered or we would be forced to put air into our tires every day!

Another important property of this rubber is that it is blood compatible. This feature allows this substance to be used in biomedical applications such as artificial joint materials.

You may have been chewing gum earlier or you may be chewing it right now. Well, GET THIS: Butyl rubber is used in all chewing gum. Rest assured that this chemical has been approved as edible.

One of the two companies responsible for the production of butyl rubber in North America is the Polysar Rubber Corporation in Sarnia, Ontario. (The other is Exxon in the United Stated.) Dr. Judit E. Puskas is employed by Polysar Rubber Corporation as an Associate Research Scientist in Research and Development and Lab Services, and she is involved in the work of the Butyl Technology Group.

The production of butyl rubber is very complex and the polymerisation process occurs at -100^oC. Dr. Puskas has made many contributions to the production of butyl rubber. She has seven U.S. patents relating to the synthesis of butyl rubber. Dr. Puskas’ group at Polysar also involves the contributions of Co-Op students whose work does not go unnoticed. Dr. Puskas has published many journal articles with students as co-authors.