What Is Polymeric Rubber?

Polymeric MUGA is a material that is made from long, chainlike molecules. The molecules in these polymers are capable of resuming their original shape after being stretched to very great lengths. This property is what gives elastomers such resilience. Polymeric rubber is an example of a type of elastomer known as a thermoplastic. Polymers are large molecules that are composed of a large number of smaller building blocks called monomers. Each monomer contains two carbon (C) atoms and three hydrogen (H) atoms and can be linked to other monomers to make long chains of monomers. These long chains are said to be “polymers.”

The Science of Polymeric Rubber: What Makes It Ideal for Impact Absorption

Rubber has a wide range of uses. Its elasticity makes it suitable for hoses, tires and rollers for devices such as domestic clothes wringers and printing presses. Its relative gas impermeability and resistance to the action of many fluid chemicals also make it useful for industrial products like rubber gaskets, seals and insulators.

The rubber in a tire is not natural; most of it is synthetic polymers derived from petroleum oil, such as polyisoprene and cis-polybutadiene, blended with reinforcing fillers, modifiers, antioxidants, sulfur and other additives. The vulcanized mixture is then processed to form the rubber used in cars, trucks and other machines.

The polymeric rubber used in sports surfaces is typically a blend of EPDM and rubber with an EPDM basecoat that can be sprayed in a range of colours to match different requirements for the type of surface. This layer can also include a shockpad to help reduce the impact on athletes’ joints.