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Is the day of Black’s rise also the day of rubber’s plunge?

2022-02-19

Currently, policy measures are clearly weighing on commodity markets, with black metals showing the most pronounced weakness; prices in this sector have already fallen by more than 20% from their peaks. Some individual commodities are beginning to show signs of stabilization.

Rubber Market Performance:

The overall market is performing poorly, with limited demand at the retail level. Traders are experiencing slow sales, and inventory levels remain elevated. For now, the focus is on clearing existing stock, with little appetite for new purchases. Meanwhile, the severe COVID‑19 situation in Southeast Asia could weigh on rubber production.

Recently, downstream demand has been weak, causing tire manufacturers’ operating rates to ease from their early-May peak. Meanwhile, demand for concentrated latex products remains tepid, offering only limited support to rubber prices. On the daily chart, price action has largely trended upward in a choppy manner, with 13,900 serving as a key resistance level.

The 2021 recovery in global rubber demand is expected to fall short of expectations.

What are the six key factors in silicone rubber compression molding and vulcanization?

Precipitated silica is a high-tech inorganic fine chemical product.

White carbon black, also known as silica, is scientifically termed precipitated hydrated silica. It is a high‑tech inorganic fine chemical product whose main constituent is SiO₂. Its physical properties resemble those of carbon black, appearing as a highly dispersed white amorphous powder or flocculent powder; it is also processed into granular forms for commercial use. Lightweight, with an original particle size below 0.3 μm and a relative density ranging from 2.319 to 2.653, it has a melting point of 1750°C. It is insoluble in water and most acids, but absorbs moisture from the air, forming hygroscopic fine particles. It is soluble in caustic soda and hydrofluoric acid, while remaining inert to other chemicals; it does not decompose at high temperatures nor does it burn. It is chemically inert toward substrates, active ingredients, and additives, and exhibits excellent compatibility with many active components commonly used in vitamins, hormones, fluorides, antibiotics, enzyme preparations, and cosmetics. It possesses high electrical insulation properties. Owing to its porosity and large specific surface area, it demonstrates strong dispersibility in raw rubber and imparts superior reinforcing performance in rubber compounds. Surface‑modified hydrophobic silica readily disperses in oils, rubbers, and plastics as a reinforcing filler, significantly enhancing mechanical strength and tear resistance. Due to variations in manufacturing processes, the physical and chemical characteristics, as well as the microstructure, of silica may differ, leading to distinct application areas and performance outcomes.

2022-02-19

Do you know the types and properties of silicon dioxide?

The reinforcing fillers used in silicone rubber are primarily synthetic silica, also known as precipitated silica. Precipitated silica is classified into fumed silica and precipitated silica.

2022-02-19

What method is used for the high-temperature surface treatment of precipitated silica?

Surface high‑temperature treatment involves subjecting precipitated silica to elevated temperatures to remove adsorbed molecules—such as water and other low‑molecular‑weight species—from its surface. While this approach can modestly improve certain vulcanization properties, the effect is not particularly pronounced. Surface chemical treatment, on the other hand, entails reacting the active silanol groups on the silica surface with specific chemical reagents, thereby enhancing the compatibility and reactive activity of the silica with polymeric matrices. A wide variety of reagents can be employed for such chemical modification, and numerous methods exist; a substantial body of literature and patents addresses these approaches. The following provides a brief overview of some key aspects.

2022-02-19

Challenges Facing the Future Development of the International Rubber Industry

On May 26, the 18th Shanghai Derivatives Market Forum, hosted by the Shanghai Futures Exchange, opened at the Shanghai Futures Building. At the forum’s rubber-themed roundtable held that afternoon, participants engaged in an in-depth discussion on several challenges currently facing the international rubber market.