In the vast system of rubber materials, ethyl rubber occupies an extremely important position with its unique properties and wide application. As a diethyl silicone rubber made by introducing ethyl groups on the side chains of dimethyl polysiloxane, it has shown many excellent properties with its special molecular structure and plays an irreplaceable role in many fields.


From the perspective of molecular structure, the main chain of ordinary silicone rubber is a silicon-oxygen structure, and the side chains are different alkyl structures. However, ethyl rubber introduces ethyl groups on the side chains of dimethyl polysiloxane. This seemingly minor change has a profound impact on its performance. The introduction of ethyl groups destroys the original crystallization properties of silicone rubber, allowing the molecular chains to maintain better flexibility and mobility in low temperature environments. This structural adjustment has become a key factor in the excellent low temperature resistance of ethyl rubber.


The most outstanding performance of ethyl rubber is its excellent low temperature resistance. Generally speaking, the molecular chains of ordinary silicone rubber will gradually become rigid in low temperature environments, resulting in a significant decrease in the flexibility and elasticity of rubber materials, and even brittle cracking. However, ethyl rubber is completely different, with a minimum glass transition temperature as low as -147℃. This data far exceeds many other rubber materials, making it the leader in low-temperature resistance. In high-latitude and cold regions, the perennial low-temperature environment is a huge challenge for all kinds of equipment and materials. For example, in oil extraction facilities in the Arctic, the seals of the equipment, the rubber parts at the pipe joints, etc., if ordinary rubber materials are used, are easy to fail under extremely cold conditions, leading to serious problems such as leakage. The rubber parts made of ethyl rubber can maintain good elasticity and sealing in such a harsh low-temperature environment to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.

In the field of cryogenic equipment, ethyl rubber also plays a vital role. For example, the internal temperature of storage and transportation equipment for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is often extremely low. The sealing rubber, shock-absorbing rubber and other components in the equipment must have super low-temperature resistance. The existence of ethyl rubber enables these components to maintain stable performance in a deep cold environment, effectively prevent gas leakage, and ensure the safe operation of the equipment. In the field of aerospace, when the aircraft is flying at high altitude, the external environment temperature is extremely low, and it also has to withstand the impact of high-speed airflow and various complex mechanical loads. Aircraft seals, shock-absorbing components, spacecraft cabin seals, and rubber components of solar panel deployment mechanisms all need to be able to work normally in extremely low temperature environments. Ethyl rubber provides a solid guarantee for the reliability of aerospace equipment with its excellent low-temperature resistance.

In addition to low-temperature resistance, ethyl rubber also has the characteristics of constant elastic modulus and constant damping factor. In precision electronic equipment, such as smartphones, tablets, and high-end instruments, high-performance damping and vibration reduction materials are required to protect the internal precision electronic components from vibration. The constant elastic modulus of ethyl rubber means that it can always maintain a stable elastic recovery force when subjected to different degrees of vibration, and will not lose elasticity due to changes in vibration amplitude. Its constant damping factor can effectively convert vibration energy into other forms of energy and dissipate it, thereby achieving efficient vibration reduction effects. In the camera anti-shake module of a smartphone, the damping material made of ethyl rubber can ensure that the camera can still capture clear images stably when it is vibrated, thereby enhancing the user's shooting experience.

From the perspective of preparation technology, the preparation process of ethyl rubber requires precise control and professional technology. Common preparation methods include co-hydrolysis and polycondensation of dimethyldichlorosilane and diethyldichlorosilane, and copolymerization of siloxane and hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane under alkaline catalyst. In these preparation processes, reaction conditions such as temperature, pressure, type and amount of catalyst, etc., all have a crucial impact on the performance of the final product. Taking co-hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions as an example, the reaction temperature and time must be strictly controlled to ensure that dimethyldichlorosilane and diethyldichlorosilane can fully react to generate ethyl raw rubber with ideal molecular structure and performance.

In practical applications, ethyl raw rubber has a wide range of applications. In addition to the high-latitude and cold regions, deep-cold equipment, aerospace and precision electronic equipment mentioned above, in the field of deep-sea exploration, as human beings continue to deepen their exploration of the ocean, deep-sea detectors need to work in a complex marine environment with low temperature and high pressure. The outer shell seal of the detector, the joint seal of the underwater robot, and the protective rubber parts of various sensors can all be made of ethyl raw rubber to ensure their stable performance in harsh environments. In the automotive industry, for some cars used in cold areas, if ethyl rubber is used in rubber tires, seals, shock-absorbing parts, etc., the performance and safety of the car in low temperature environments can be significantly improved.

Ethyl rubber has shown great advantages in many fields due to its excellent performance brought by its unique molecular structure. With the continuous advancement and development of science and technology, the requirements for material performance are getting higher and higher. Ethyl rubber is expected to be further applied and expanded in more fields, contributing more to the development of human science and technology and the improvement of life. It is not only a high-performance rubber material, but also an important support for promoting technological innovation and progress in various fields.