USE OF FOAMED RUBBER STRUCTURE

摘要

A foamed rubber having a plurality of microvoids comprising mticrospheres incorporated therein characterized in that the microspheres are expanded during heating and vulcanization of the rubber and the volume fraction of the expanded microspheres is 35-80 % in the foamed rubber. The microspheres may be thermoplastic microspheres filled with a volatile liquid. The microspheres may have an unexpanded diameter of 5 to 10 mum and an expanded di ameter of between 300 mum and 1000 mum. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture of a rubber comprising the steps of. providing a rubber; incorporating additives; adding and mixing microspheres into the rubber composition; and heating the rubber to effect vulcanization. The vulcanization of the rubber may be delayed to allow for expansion of expandable microspheres during heating, such a delay may be achieved by adding a delayed action accelerator or a retarder to the rubber.