Rubber and Elastomers

Molecular Rebar®, MR, increases wear resistance to extend the lifetime of rubber goods and tires or enable formulators to adjust other critical properties without sacrificing longevity. MR’s optimal aspect ratio and excellent dispersion improve crack propagation resistance, often doubling lifetime in macro-abrasive conditions. MR is also used commercially by customers in elastomer formulations for electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and to improve critical properties under high pressure and high temperature conditions, such as Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) resistance & improved extrusion resistance.

  • Lowered cost of component ownership ($/hr)

    • Less downtime & higher throughput
    • Longer lifetime than cost increase = lower operating cost

  • Easy fit with existing manufacturing

    • MR in oil: MRO
      • Universal uses; no change in compounding process
      • Various ratio of MR to oil available; 50:50 most common
    • MR Masterbatch: MR in Polymer
      • Uses either specialty polymer from the customer or MRD-supplied polymers
        • No change in compounding process: polymer is matched to existing specification
      • 15-25wt% MR in polymer (HNBR, FEPM, FKM, FFKM)

  • Improved performance properties

    • Lighter-weight, more fuel efficient, and tougher rubber compounds for tires
    • Greater resistance to abrasion with MR enables further formulation changes
      • Ex: change ratio of polymer types to modify hysteretic properties without sacrifice to longevity

  • Improved performance characteristics for tough applications

    • Expanded operational conditions for new components – higher pressures, temperatures, and rough environments
    • Generates expansion of existing business for customers or enables new applications / market share

By leveraging the improved resistance to wear, rubber components can be optimized through engineering design changes. Allow Molecular Rebar® to be a new ingredient in your recipe cabinet.

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Performance & Products

  • MRO Gen I

    • Use in specialty polymers: NBR, HNBR, XNBR, CR / Neoprene, etc.
    • Delivered with TOTM, DBEEA, Castor, DOP, DOA, DBS, or other ester oils

  • MRO Gen II

    • For use as an additive for toughness properties in parts & tires
    • Use in NR/SBR/PBR or blends thereof
    • Offered as a 50:50 ratio of MR:Oil in naphthenic, TDAE, RAE, paraffinic, or soybean oil

  • Gen IV MR: Silane-coupled

    • For use as a silica filler replacement, lowering density and improving performance
    • Use in NR/SBR/PBR/BIIR or blends thereof
    • Offered as a 15-25wt% MR in polymer masterbatch: E-SBR, S-SBR, PBR, or BIIR

  • Non-oxidized MR (NOMR) in Specialty Elastomers

    • For use as an existing filler replacement, improving performance for critical applications
    • Offered as a 15-25wt% MR in a customer-supplied polymer masterbatch: HNBR, FEPM, FKM, FFKM
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Coatings

Molecular Rebar® makes coatings more rugged and corrosion resistant. Our functionalized MR binds to epoxy or urethanes for improved durability. MR electrically connects corrosion inhibitors and reduces the required zinc concentration in zinc-rich primers.  Because MR is discrete and individual, coatings are defect-free.

  • Reduced cost of ownership

    • Longer corrosion protection lifetimes
    • Increased damage tolerance

  • Reduced coating cost

    • Thinner coatings
    • Reduced corrosion inhibitors

  • Increase market share for coating manufacturers

    • Differentiated coatings
    • Replace 90% Zinc-rich primers with 80% Zinc or less

Coatings

Molecular Rebar® makes coatings more rugged and corrosion resistant. Our functionalized MR binds to epoxy or urethanes for improved durability. MR electrically connects corrosion inhibitors and reduces the required zinc concentration in zinc-rich primers.  Because MR is discrete and individual, coatings are defect-free.

  • Reduced cost of ownership

    • Longer corrosion protection lifetimes
    • Increased damage tolerance

  • Reduced coating cost

    • Thinner coatings
    • Reduced corrosion inhibitors

  • Increase market share for coating manufacturers

    • Differentiated coatings
    • Replace 90% Zinc-rich primers with 80% Zinc or less – epoxy producers increase sales
Up to 3x

Longer Lifetime

Performance & Products

Available Products

  • 2% Molecular Rebar® in bisphenol A/epichlorohydrin liquid epoxy resin

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70%

Higher Impact Strength

Up to 3x

Longer Lifetime

70%

Higher Impact Strength

Performance & Products

Available Products

  • 2% Molecular Rebar® in bisphenol A/epichlorohydrin liquid epoxy resin

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Conductive Inks

MOLECULAR REBAR® is uniquely tailored to take your conducting ink formulations to the next level of rugged performance for rapid growth into flexible/durable applications with economics that make sense.

  • Improved print quality & performance

    • Improved conductivity at lower thickness
    • Improved performance consistency- less rejects
    • Improved conductivity during stretching
    • Improved print resolution

  • Easy fit with printing processes

    • Nano- to Micro-particle inks
    • Digital to screen printing

Conductive Inks

MOLECULAR REBAR® is uniquely tailored to take your conducting ink formulations to the next level of rugged performance for rapid growth into flexible/durable applications with economics that make sense.

  • Improved print quality & performance

    • Improved conductivity at lower thickness
    • Improved performance consistency- less rejects
    • Improved conductivity during stretching
    • Improved print resolution

  • Easy fit with printing processes

    • Nano- to Micro-particle inks
    • Digital to screen printing

Performance & Products

  • Water Based Products

    • 3 wt% MR
    • Available in 50cc to 1 liter and larger containers on request

  • Solvent-based products

    • 2 wt% MR in ethylene glycol butyl ether
    • Available in 100g to kg’s quantities
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Composites

Through its ability to fully disperse into the host matrices, as well as its ability to penetrate carbon or glass fiber layers, MOLECULAR REBAR® significantly increases both the mechanical as well as the electrical properties of composite matrix materials.

Composites

Through its ability to fully disperse into the host matrices, as well as its ability to penetrate carbon or glass fiber layers, MOLECULAR REBAR® significantly increases both the mechanical as well as the electrical properties of composite matrix materials.

Performance & Products

  • Enhanced

    • Toughness and durability in epoxies
    • Interlaminar shear stress between fibers

  • Fit easily with existing composites manufacture.

    • Does not change curing conditions
    • Masterbatch designed for facile dilution.
    • Little flow viscosity changes
    • Enhanced microwave or near infra red curing kinetics
Learn More

Performance & Products

  • Enhanced

    • Toughness and durability in epoxies
    • Interlaminar shear stress between fibers

  • Fit easily with existing composites manufacture.

    • Does not change curing conditions
    • Masterbatch designed for facile dilution.
    • Little flow viscosity changes
    • Enhanced microwave or near infra red curing kinetics
Learn More