RubberChem 2010

The global economic downturn had a vast impact on the rubber chemicals sector as many customers in the allied automotive, building and construction and industrial equipment fields saw their businesses badly hit. However, with the world economy now growing and consumer confidence improving, the demand for higher performance and superior durability of rubber articles is set to once again drive technical product developments and innovations in the use of chemicals in rubber compounds.

With experts predicting that the less industrialised nations of China and India will lead the economic recovery, low-price competition from Asia is likely to continue to impact the European rubber chemicals market. Add to this the complications of the REACH regulations which have required large scale product reformulations and it is clear to see why there is a need for continued research and development to respond to new challenges.

The seventh international conference devoted to rubber chemicals, compounding and mixing covered developments in a range of rubber chemicals from accelerators, antioxidants and antiozonants to retarders and peptisers.

These proceedings cover all the presentations from the conference, featuring representatives from some of the world's leading companies in the rubber chemicals arena, including Lanxess, DSM Elastomers, Dow Corning GmbH, Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Schill & Seilacher "Struktol" GmbH and Trelleborg Wheel Systems giving up to date information from the heart of the rubber industry.