Buna rubber is a synthetic rubber that was developed during World War II. The word 'Buna' is pronounced as [ˈbuːnɑː] in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of the word Buna is derived from the German word 'Bu' which means rubber and 'Na' which is an abbreviation for sodium. The word has a long vowel sound represented by the letter 'u'. This type of rubber is commonly referred to as nitrile rubber and is used in the manufacturing of various products including hoses, seals, gloves and footwear.
Buna rubber, also known as Buna-N or nitrile rubber, is a type of versatile synthetic rubber that is created using the copolymerization of butadiene and acrylonitrile. The name "buna" is derived from the combining of "butadiene" and "natrium" (the Latin term for sodium), which was the catalyst used during the early stages of its development.
Buna rubber is widely recognized for its outstanding resilience, durability, and resistance to oils, fuels, and chemicals, making it a popular choice for various industrial applications. It exhibits excellent resistance to abrasion, tearing, and compression set, allowing it to maintain its shape and performance even under demanding conditions. The presence of the acrylonitrile component enhances the rubber's resistance to oil, solvents, and gasoline, making it an ideal material for gaskets, seals, and O-rings used in automotive, aerospace, and transportation industries.
With its high tensile strength, flexibility, and low-temperature resistance, Buna rubber remains effective across a wide temperature range, from -40°C to +110°C (-40°F to +230°F). Its unique properties also make it suitable for applications in the medical field, where it is commonly used for gloves, tubing, and seals due to its resistance to oils, blood, and other bodily fluids.
In summary, buna rubber is a synthetic rubber that possesses exceptional resilience, durability, and resistance to oils, chemicals, and abrasion. Its versatility and wide range of applications have made it a valuable material in various industries.
The term "buna rubber" is derived from the German word "Büna", which itself is an abbreviation of "Bütadien-Natrium" (styrene-butadiene-sodium). Buna rubber refers to a type of synthetic rubber that was developed by German chemist Walter Bock in the early 1930s. The term "buna" became synonymous with this particular type of rubber, and it is often used to describe various types of synthetic rubber that contain butadiene.