Rubber and Plastic Differences: Choose the Best Material for Your ...

Rubber and plastic are both widely used materials, each with its unique properties, applications, and environmental impact. While they both belong to the polymer family, the differences between rubber and plastic in chemical composition, manufacturing processes, and sustainability make them suitable for different uses. In this blog, we’ll delve deep into the comparison of rubber vs plastic, touching on their environmental impact, cost, durability, and applications, while also discussing sustainable alternatives to both materials.

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Is Rubber a Type of Plastic?

The short answer is no. Rubber and plastic may seem similar, but they are distinct in their composition and behavior. While both are polymers, rubber is classified as an elastomer due to its elastic properties, meaning it can stretch and return to its original shape. Plastic, on the other hand, is generally more rigid and versatile in terms of molding and shaping. This difference in elasticity vs plasticity sets the two materials apart.

What is Rubber?

Rubber, whether natural or synthetic, is made from long polymer chains that give it its signature elasticity. These polymers are made of smaller building blocks called monomers, which link together to form rubber’s flexible and durable structure. Additives like sulfur (used in vulcanization) are also essential in giving rubber its strength and resistance to heat.

The chemical composition of rubber is key to its versatility, from polyisoprene in natural rubber to synthetic rubbers like SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber). However, understanding the intricate details of rubber’s chemical properties, including its melting temperature and the role of additives, requires a deeper look.

What are Different Types of Rubber?

Rubber is a versatile material, categorized into two types:

• Synthetic Rubber: Made from petroleum byproducts, synthetic rubber includes popular variants like Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) and Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR). These rubbers are widely used in tires, hoses, and gaskets due to their resistance to oil, heat, and abrasion.
• Natural Rubber: Derived from the sap of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis), natural rubber is known for its high elasticity and durability. It’s mainly used in automotive, industrial seals, and medical equipment.

Each type of rubber offers unique advantages, but if you want to dive deeper into the differences between natural and synthetic rubber, their applications, and how they compare, check out our detailed blog post Everything You Need To Know About Natural Rubber And Synthetic Rubber.

What is Plastic?

Plastic is a synthetic material made from long chains of polymers derived primarily from petrochemical sources like crude oil or natural gas. These polymers are built from smaller units called monomers, which are chemically bonded to form a solid structure. Unlike rubber, plastics are generally rigid and do not stretch back to their original form once deformed.

Plastics come in many varieties, including Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and PVC, each with its own unique properties suited for different applications—whether it’s packaging, automotive parts, or household items. Additives are often incorporated into plastics to enhance features like durability, flexibility, or resistance to chemicals.

Plastic is a synthetic material made from polymer chains derived from crude oil or natural gas. It is categorized into two types:

• Thermoplastics: These plastics become moldable upon heating and harden upon cooling. Common examples include polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene.
• Thermosetting Plastics: Once molded, these plastics cannot be remelted. Bakelite and melamine are well-known thermosets used in kitchenware and insulation.

While both rubber and plastic are used across industries, their differences in flexibility and resilience make them suitable for different applications. For instance, plastic is favored in the packaging industry due to its malleability, whereas rubber is used in tires and gaskets for its elasticity.

How Are Rubber and Plastic Made?

How is Rubber Made?

Rubber production can be categorized into two main types: natural rubber and synthetic rubber. Each type undergoes distinct processes from raw material extraction to final product formation.

1. Natural Rubber Production

Natural rubber originates from the latex sap of Hevea brasiliensis trees, primarily grown in tropical regions. The process of transforming natural latex into usable rubber involves several steps:

• Tapping the Rubber Tree: The latex is harvested by making diagonal incisions on the tree’s bark, allowing the milky sap to flow into collection containers.
• Coagulation and Processing: After collection, the latex is treated with acids to induce coagulation. The coagulated latex is then processed through machinery to form sheets, which are smoked or dried to create durable natural rubber.
• Vulcanization: The sheets undergo vulcanization, a process where sulfur is added to improve the elasticity, strength, and heat resistance of the rubber. This step is crucial in making rubber suitable for various industrial applications, including tires, seals, and belts.

For more details on the natural rubber manufacturing process, you can visit our blog post on Latex vs. Natural Rubber: Understanding the Big Differences.

2. Synthetic Rubber Production

Unlike natural rubber, synthetic rubber is created from petroleum-based chemicals. The process of making synthetic rubber includes:

• Mixing and Vulcanization: The synthetic rubber is mixed with various additives to enhance its properties, followed by vulcanization to create a material that is strong, elastic, and resistant to chemicals and heat.
• Polymerization: Monomers such as butadiene and styrene, derived from crude oil, are chemically bonded to form long chains of polymers. These polymers serve as the building blocks for different types of synthetic rubbers, including SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) and NBR (Nitrile Rubber).

How is Plastic Made?

Plastic production is vastly different from rubber, primarily involving polymerization or polycondensation of hydrocarbons derived from crude oil and natural gas. The two main types of plastic manufacturing processes are for thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.

1. Thermoplastics

• Polymerization: Thermoplastics are made by polymerizing monomers such as ethylene (for polyethylene) or propylene (for polypropylene). This process involves joining monomers together to form long polymer chains.
• Molding: Once polymerized, the material can be melted and molded into different shapes. This is done using methods like injection molding or extrusion, where melted plastic is forced into molds and cooled into final products.
• Recyclability: The key feature of thermoplastics is that they can be reheated and reshaped multiple times, making them ideal for recycling.

2. Thermosetting Plastics

• Chemical Cross-Linking: Thermosetting plastics are created through a chemical reaction that causes the polymers to cross-link, forming a solid, rigid structure. Unlike thermoplastics, thermosets cannot be melted and remolded after they are set.
• Curing: Once shaped, the material undergoes a curing process where it is heated to create permanent bonds between polymer chains. Common examples of thermosets include epoxies and melamine.

Key Differences in Physical Properties: Elasticity vs Plasticity

The primary difference between rubber and plastic is how they react to external forces:

• Rubber: Known for its elasticity, rubber can stretch and return to its original form. This property makes it ideal for applications like tires, seals, and hoses.
• Plastic: While plastic can be molded into various shapes, it lacks the elastic recovery that rubber offers. However, its rigidity and durability make it a versatile material for products like containers, packaging, and furniture.

Applications of Rubber vs Plastic: Which Material is Used Where?

Common Applications for Rubber

Common Applications for Plastic

Rubber tends to be favored in applications requiring high elasticity, vibration resistance, and durability under stress, while plastic is more commonly used in rigid structures and when flexibility in design or cost-efficiency is the primary concern.

For more details on rubber sheets applications, refer to our blog Rubber Sheets: Know The Types & Applications In Various Industries.

Rubber vs Plastic Cost Comparison

• Rubber: Generally more expensive due to the compounding, vulcanization, and durability it provides. Specialty rubbers like EPDM or Viton can be even costlier due to their enhanced properties.
• Plastic: Cheaper to produce, especially in bulk. The flexibility in molding and the availability of thermoplastics make plastic an affordable choice for mass-produced goods.

Which Material Lasts Longer? Rubber or Plastic?

• Rubber: Known for its resilience, rubber can withstand high stress, heat, and abrasion, making it ideal for automotive and industrial applications. However, prolonged exposure to oils or chemicals can degrade rubber over time.
• Plastic: Plastic’s durability varies based on the type. Thermoplastics like polyethylene are highly durable, while others may become brittle when exposed to UV light or extreme temperatures.

Rubber vs Plastic: Which is Better for Your Project?

When choosing between rubber and plastic for your project, consider the following:

• Does your project require flexibility and elasticity? If so, rubber is the better choice.
• Will the material need to withstand high temperatures or chemical exposure? Rubber can offer superior temperature and chemical resistance in certain applications.
• Is cost your primary concern? Plastic is generally cheaper, especially for mass production.
• What is the environmental impact? Natural rubber and recycled plastics are more eco-friendly options.
• How durable does the material need to be? Rubber offers durability under stress, while plastic is more suited for lightweight, rigid applications.

When selecting between rubber and plastic for a project, it’s essential to consider the material’s unique properties, applications, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. Both materials offer distinct advantages, but the right choice depends on the specific demands of your project.

By weighing these factors, you can make an informed decision on which material best suits your project’s needs.

Min Yuen Rubber for Rubbery Product Supplier

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Further reading:
What is Lightweight Concrete? — Kreo Glossary

Precision in Customization

We provide a diverse selection of premium materials, including Natural Rubber, Latex-Free Synthetic Rubber, NBR Nitrile, and CR Neoprene. Each material is crafted to offer optimal performance and durability in its specific application, from industrial coverings to healthcare equipment.

Built for Industry-Specific Needs

Plastics are a group of thousands of different materials. They have a very wide range of applications. Their use has both advantages and disadvantages. This article presents some basic information on the subject.

By reading the article, you will learn:

• What are plastics?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of their use?
• What are the application sectors of plastics?

What is plastic

Plastic is a material in which the basic building blocks are macromolecular compounds (synthetic polymers or natural materials can be used) along with additional ingredients aimed at improving the utility properties. Such additives can include, for example, fillers, antioxidants, or dyes.

Based on their origin, one can distinguish:

• Natural origin polymers – these occur naturally in the environment and are produced by living organisms (e.g., cellulose, chitin, rubber).
• Synthetic polymers – artificially created by humans (e.g., polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride))

Advantages of plastics

Due to their advantages, plastics are widely used in various branches of industry.

Low weight

A decisive advantage of plastics is their low density, which affects the weight of the products. The density of HDPE is 0.954 g/cm³, which, compared to steel at 7.9 g/cm³, is more than eight times lower. It is not without reason that many automotive and aircraft parts are made of plastics. The low density results in a favorable ratio of mechanical strength to the weight of the finished products. Thanks to the lower weight of the vehicle, fuel consumption is reduced, which has a real impact on the natural environment. Many clients turn to us with tank projects that they would like to switch from steel to plastic precisely because of this feature. More about tank production is described in a dedicated article.

Low production cost

Plastics are relatively cheap to produce, making them a popular choice for manufacturers. The price is also influenced by the ease of molding, the availability of plastic material, and the ease of processing.

Corrosion resistance

A unique feature of plastics is that they do not corrode. Parts made of plastic can be used outdoors without the need for additional protective coatings. We can modify the properties of plastics by using various types of additives. These can provide beneficial characteristics, such as resistance to UV radiation.

Very wide range of materials

The range of plastics is unlimited – there are many types of plastic. It doesn’t have to be just the hard material often associated with so-called “cheapness.” They come in various forms and properties – they can be hard and brittle, but also soft and flexible.

Possibility of reuse

Another important feature of plastics is the possibility of their multiple processing. Products that have already fulfilled their original function do not have to be immediately disposed of, but can be converted into granules and reprocessed (e.g., by injection molding or extrusion). However, it should be remembered that with the number of processing cycles (i.e., how many times the material has been processed), it may have weaker mechanical properties.

Wide production possibilities

The ease of processing means that we can make products with complex shapes from polymer materials.

Ecological materials

There are many types of plastics that are biodegradable. A flagship example of a material that is considered the most “eco-friendly” and often referred to as “double green” is PLA (Polylactic Acid). It is produced from lactic acid and undergoes 100% biodegradation.

Wide range of color options

By using additives, we can achieve virtually any color, which has a positive impact on the final appearance.

Disadvantages of plastics

Below, we have described the basic disadvantages of plastics.

Limited thermal resistance

One of the drawbacks of using plastics is their temperature limitation. High temperatures can cause them to deform. There are, of course, additives that can be used to expand their temperature range, but many materials operate in the range of -several to +100 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, there is no way to approach the temperatures at which materials like carbon steel can operate continuously (e.g., carbon steel has a maximum long-term operating temperature of 425 degrees Celsius).

Petroleum based

Many commonly used plastics (such as PET) are produced from petroleum. These resources are limited, so looking through the environmental aspect, more and more companies are investing their resources in plastics in “bio” plastics (you can find a detailed description of the plastics used here)

Difficulty in disposal

Plastics are difficult to dispose of, which can lead to environmental pollution because they have a very long decomposition time.

Some plastics have toxic properties

Some plastics can have a negative impact on the health of humans and animals. These include compounds such as Bisphenol A (used in the industrial production of polycarbonate products) or phthalates used as plasticizers. During the combustion of plastics, toxic compounds can be produced.

The application of plastics

Plastics are actually used in every segment of our lives. Starting from everyday items like packaging, decorations, or seals, and ending with industrial products such as wastewater treatment tanks. Products like plastic housings, safety helmets, or prosthetics have a real impact on improving human life. Plastics are also used in the heating industry. We have written a separate article on this topic.

Plastics – segments

As per the PlasticsEurope report, for several years now, the largest segment of plastic applications has been packaging, accounting for as much as 40.5%. The next segment is construction (20.4%), and the automotive industry is in third place (8.8%).

The plastics industry is the 8th most important in the world. The demand for plastics is constantly growing, which leads to an increase in job opportunities and has a direct impact on the GDP.

Summary

Like all existing materials, plastics have their advantages and disadvantages. Their low weight, ease of processing, favorable cost, and the possibility of recycling are just some of the factors that contribute to their wide range of applications in various industries. However, high operating temperatures can be a significant limitation.

A wise approach to production ensures that the use of plastics has no negative impact on the natural environment, thanks to multiple processing and proper disposal. However, an unaware approach can lead to plastics polluting the natural environment.

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