Rubber

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New Zealand

Manufacturing / extraction processes

Owner of 'Rubber solutions' Lance Jackson winding the rubber mixer. We visited Lance on the 18th of July at his Railway Road base in Upper Hutt. There we were shown the machines that Lance uses to mix rubber with solvent. The resulting mixed rubber is used by Rubber Solutions to retread tyres, predominantly truck tyres. What they do is spray the old tyres with the rubber mix, onto which they stick a new pre-made tread. This process creates a very strong bond between the new tread and the tyre
Two rotating blades mixing the liquid rubber, 'Rubber solutions', Upper Hutt
View of inside a barrel of liquid rubber, 'Rubber solutions', Upper Hutt

Natural rubber and Synthetic rubber


Natural rubber as a raw material is extracted from the Heva brasiliensis, commonly known as the "Para rubber tree". It is extracted through the collection of sap; a milky substance also known as Latex. It can be collected using a number of ways such as microtapping into polyethylene bags.

Rubber can also be in the state of synthetic, sourced mainly from Asia it has different chemical substances in them so it can be polymerized into latex.


Types of synthetic rubber


1. Styrene-Butadiene rubbers - Originating from World War 2 it is the most synthetic rubber used worldwide.

It is the most common and cheapest.

At oil refineries styrene and Butadiene are produced by reacting with one another. It uses the 'distillation process' which uses oil as the compound material. This new rubber contains 25%Styrene and 75%Butadiene.

It has the same properties as natural rubber but has higher heat resistance and lower temperature flexability and strengh.

It is used for the covering of hoses.


2. Isoprene rubber (IR) -

Is very similar to natural rubber in terms of its chemical structure and its products. Although it does not contain some substances that natural rubber does such as, fatty acids or proteins.


3. Butadiene rubber (BR) -

It is the most elastic. It is used in conjunction with other rubber types to imrpove wear resistance, elasticity and low temperature properties.

Mixed with natural rubber it is used in the manufacturing of truck tyres.


Latex technology -

Is the use of varioius types of rubber to produce industrial and tranportation products such as seals, expansion tank bladders, and transformer oil seals and bladders. It uses 'dip molding' to do this.


Processes used for Manufacturing


1.Compounding - Decision on what components should be applied to the rubber to achieve the desired properties for the rubber, considering the job.


2. Mixing - Involves an external ram pushing the above components into the two winged rotors of an internal mixer. Unique mixing processes need to be invented each time as the purpose and the ingredients for the rubber change.


3. Forming - Extruding the rubber into a desired shape, producing sheets of rubber or applying sheets to a fabric using moulds.


4. Building - Tyres, shoes, life rafts all require the products to be built, which is usually done by combining the rubber with other materials such as textiles, fabric or metal. Some however require no building to take place so vulcanization can take place as sonn as the extrusion has.


5. Vuclanization - Involves crosslinking the chains within the rubber in order to make the end product durable and adaptable for its desired function. To do this a curing agent is added, mainly sulfur and then heat is applied for a specific time and at a certain degree of temperature, which converts the plastic, raw rubber into an electric state. Other oxidising chemicals such as selenium, organic compounds and gamma radiation can also be added in addition to the sulfur to vulcanize the rubber, altering its outcome and how long the process takes.

The heating is applied by the use of steam heated platens which are in the hydraulic presses which hold the rubber moulds closed. This process can take place when the moulds are in air chambers and/or in water.


Liquid rubber in plastic containers ready for shipment and distribution, 'Rubbber solutions', Upper Hutt















Material properties

Piping covered by rubber to protect from wear and tear, Oriental Bay Wellington

1. Is water resistant


2. Is long lasting


3. Is wear resistant


4. Has fire resistant properites


5. Is repellant to dirt


6. Absorbs sound


7. Is elastic - Relaxed to kinetic state. The rubber is cross-linked so that it can be easily stretched and is able to return to its original state. At room temperature it stretches to twice its length then contracts again.


8. As a raw material the rubber is weak to sunglight and temperature, making them lose their elasticity quickly which is why vulcaniztion must take place.





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Common fixing methods & finish of materials

End products of rubber tubbing and fixing to electical wiring
Rubber finish on flooring leading into a restaurant on Courtney PL

Commonly fixed by used solid blocks of rubber sandwiched between construction materials then bolts are ran through and fastened together.


Rubber can be used as a sealant to hold together materials such as steel.


For electrical insulation rubber tubing is moulded as a coating around the wire, this aviods seams and holes.


The majority of synthetic rubber produced for use in industrial or landscape settings looks relatively similar. The differences are in the mould, the reconstitution of shredded rubber, or the colour.


Altering the colour of rubber involves adding zinc oxide in addition to the filler.


Fillers are chemicals like carbon black which is used to add strength and durability to the final product.

Rubber used as a border sealant for other materials















Format of Rubber in the city context

A typical street light in Wellington. Here rubber tubing has been used to insulate electrical wires.
"Quake Breakers" at Te Papa flex during an Earthquake, as the ground moves so do the Rubber pilings but the building remains relatively still.
Intergration A seat by Te Papa. apart from design or aesthetics the use or rubber in city furniture seems pointless.

Infrastructure

Most rubber uses in New Zealand Landscape Architecture are in this format. Because of it’s physical properties rubber is extensively used as an insulator in power transmission or as a buffer in construction. Although it is out of sight, the role played in infrastructure is crucial, without it many building projects could not be possible. Anything that is under great amounts of stress requires the ability to move. Materials like concrete are excellent for construction but lack any flexibility. The use of rubber in joints offers greater structural integrity. A key Wellington example is the use of rubber in the pilings at Te Papa.


Intergration/Safety

The Second highest use is protection. Rubber is a durable material that depending of production, works well to cushion impact. Because of this rubber allows and offers a degree of safety in recreational pursuits and day to day life. For example: it’s used as padding in playgrounds

Rubber Mulch - added to fix erosion problems, good around flowers and plants to lock in moisture, idea for non slip paths within the landscape, ideal for edging and for childrens playgrounds.


Elephant Bark - ideal for heavy foot traffic, cushions shock of walking.


Transport

The most evident use of rubber in the city is on tyres; although vehicles are not components of Landscape Architecture, they are dominate in the landscape. After tyres are worn down by the road the rubber in the tyres finds it way back into roads.

Rubber modified asphalt has been known to improve the rheological properties at low and high temperatures and provide a life up to three times longer than conventional asphalt. Rubber modified asphalt could have the largest market for waste tire recycling. Moreover, this application could result in an important improvement for road construction technology. This new road has not reached New Zealand yet but in the U.S.A around a 100 million recycled tyres are use every year

Transport These + Good idea = recycling success


















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Durability and maintenance requirements

Rubber matting in childrens' playground for safety


Rubber is pretty much impervious to all wether conditons, with the exception of the sun. This is only in the case of a low budget rubber that has been exposed to hot sundrenched conditions for exteended periods. If subgected to this enviroment the rubber can become brittle and lose its flex, rendering it useless. A low budget rubber is a rubber that is made up of more that 90% solvent. You're standard rubber is around 80% solvent before setting.


In pretty much all instances, rubber is virtually maintenance free. If the surface of the rubber matting is not used often, it can start to grow mould. But due to its smooth outer surface it is easily removed with a quick once over with a water blaster.

Life-cycle / recycling possibilities

One use of recycled rubber, Wellington Waterfront

Rubber tyres can be recycled 100percent to use for rubber mulch chips. These chips can then be used safety surfacing in many different areas, such as, playgrounds, patios, exercise flooring and many more. The beauty of these chips is that it can be mixed and poured on site to fill any area. The length of time that these areas last, of course, depends on the amount of use that it gets but a company called "Safe Guard Surfacing" isuse a five year waranty.


Another way that recycled rubber has been utilised for the landscape is in running tracks. It provides a non slippery surface in all conditions and with its spongey quality provides a low impact surface that is ideal for sprint training


A huge plus to these recycled products is that when the surfaces become too worn, it can be ripped up and recycled again and again.




List of manufacturers / contractors / suppliers

  • Chemiplas NZ LTD Level3 29 Waterloo RD, Lower Hutt 04 5693888



  • Fort Rubber LTD 0800 603678



  • Melsc Minerals (NZ) LTD 0800 396272



  • Rubber bits 12 Vic ST Petone 04 5683745



  • Thorndon Rubber Co. LTD 12 Gregory ST, Lower Hutt 0800 658686, 04 5673135



  • Products Rubber sol LTD. Vulcanizing Adhesives 4 Railway AVE, Upper Hutt 04 5285071






Product information / specifications

Rubber is one of the world's most utilised natural resources. It is manufactured to create an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 products worldwide. Its attractive properties make it an ideal material in many different fields and landscape architecture is no exception.

A 1989 Branz Study Report investigated the durability of the following rubbers specifically in relation to construction and the outdoors; Butadiene, Butyl, Chloroprene, Chlorosulphanated Polyethylene, Ethylene Propylene Monomer (EPM), Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), Natural, Silicone and Styrene Butadiene.

Interesting results show that EPM and EPDM are the most durable of the investigated rubbers, each with an estimated outdoor lifespan of 20 years, 5 years more than any other rubber. These two rubbers also proved resistant to ozone attack as did Chlorosulphanated Polyethylene and Butyl.

In terms of the chemical structure of natural rubber is composed of several thousand chemical repeating units, or monomers, linked together with covalent bonds. The structure of the rubber molecule is classified as a carbon chain because it is made of of mostly single or double bounded carbons.

Rubber was named by Joseph Priestly in 1770 who discovered that dry rubber could erase pencil markings.



Rubber Safety Tiles (click to enlarge)

User:Benjam'n

This is the typical Rubber Safety Tile. Depending on make, these are around one to two inches thick and will provide a degree of protection from a low level fall, although my research has shown that they are used inadequately as protection for dangerous heights. Mostly used around playgrounds where children are likely to injury them selves, additional benefits include a surface that doesn’t break down and needs little maintenance.
Rubber tiles cover the ground around these swings and other low lying play fixtures on Wellingtons water front, due to rain fall, this area of the play ground becomes flooded, sand or better drainage should have been used, so that the playground would be used.


Here I find myself atop an abstracted spider web, so this is a contemporary jungle gym. The standard issue playground peeking into the picture looks dwarfed from my perch. Is it just me or do I feel unsafe and unsure that adequate protective measures have been taken to ensure my survival lest I loose footing and plummet head first into the convincingly? soft rubber safety net, I guess the rag doll effect of my body bouncing off every taut rope on the way down will slow my momentum. F*ck Health and Safety Standards! Good job City Council.
Again I’m up high, this time on the top of a climbing wall. At this height I feel that jumping down on the tiles could be done with little injury, but still wouldn’t want to. The activity of climbing on this wall doesn’t offer the same degree of danger as playing on the Web, maybe that’s why it’s not as fun. From up here I have noticed that the designers might have had a large “motif” when laying down the tiles. From the ground plane the difference in colour can easily be passed off as low budget attempts to acquire the right amount of tiles.


Here the Rubber Tiles have been used in an attempt to offer non slip protection along a slight incline, due to the porous nature of the tiles the grass has had the opportunity to re-establish itself, a failing attempt to offer long term support. And yet I find their mistakes to be successful! Something poetic about nature reclaiming its territory in the urban sprawl without the intervention from a concerned civil group, if only at the smallest scale.

























































Precedent 2 - HARBOUR VIEWS

User:Kylee


The coming and going of tides.... and boats, yes the harbour area in Wellington city is home to many classic examples of rubber being used in the landscape.

An effective use for rubber as a grip, non slip surface for boats and harbour masters on this steep ramp in Wellington harbour. The growing algae however makes me wonder whether this makes the rubber slippery, therfore it not fully serving its desired purpose??


An excellent idea in terms of a rubber stopper support which is wedged between the concrete and wood foundations to absorb the shock of incoming boats into the harbour. The rubbers elasticity properties enable the stopper to contract on impact and then expand again. The gushing water visible below also suggests this rubber structure is used to protect the harbour edge from incoming tides and the quakes of boats.


Rubber back supports for public seats on the Harbour? How cosy, although it seems to be effective as I watch a man resting his head back on one. I wonder if the rubber was wet would it have a spongy quality to it and absorb some of the water or would it be rock hard and not comfortable at all... for the head or back.


Rubber stoppers used as "pins" to hold the wooden walking surface in place. It could well be that the wooden surface is not as solid as the concrete foundation therefore requires the rubber as an underground support for the weight of many Wellington strollers
The bigger the shock absorption, the bigger the tyre! The evidence of the tide when it's high suggests that the tyre must remain solid from the water instead of going 'spongy' as the elasticity properties in the rubber may weaken, causing it to not be effective in terms of shock absorption. Further investigation showed that water has no effect on the rubbers properties, therefore disregards any ideas I had about the rubber backed seats being spongy when wet.






































































Precedent 3

Jarvis


This is a sample of non slip flooring that can be glued to pretty much every kind of surface. It is generally used in wet areas, such as around swimming pools but can also be applied to the landscape. It is used in my home town by the boat club and by the rowing club. They have paths of it to the lake and back to the boat sheds. It is an ideal surface to carry there heavy equipment over.
This sample is a variation on the previous. It is a product that has a specific role to play. This is due to its parallel rubber fins. It is used on sloping areas such as ramps and walkways. It is not as versatile as the previous as it only provides good traction in one direction.



















Precedent 4

james

Rubber! What a boring topic I thought to myself. What could I possibly find of interest when researching rubber? But after walking around Wellington with my camera I soon realised that rubber is a very interesting material indeed. On my walks I encountered a lot of paint, a lot of stainless steel, a lot of plastic – but not much rubber. Why? Good question.

This is an image of a rubber protection layer at Waitangi Park in Wellington. It is adjacent to a small climbing wall and is intended to soften or break the fall of a failed climber. This is the first illustration of the special nature of rubber. It's ability to resist water, remain stable in varying temperatures and become flexible on demand make it the perfect solution as a safety aid for the climbing wall. It is much easier and cheaper than bark also, especially in the long term as maintenance is nothing more than a quick water blast. But what I like most about this rubber is not it's ability to serve its purpose of efficiency better than any other material – I like the texture of the matting. I like the pattern created by thousands of tiny circles. The way the rubber almost dissolves under your foot when walking - and then instantly springs back as if it had never been touched.
This image is a close up of the designer seats which can be found outside Te Papa on the Wellington waterfront. What I like about these seats is that the designer has made a specific choice to use rubber. The grainy texture of the rubber makes you want to touch it with your hands, to run a finger from one end to the other. It feels manufactured and processed to touch yet at the same time comes across as raw and bold.
This is a photo from the children's playground at Waitangi Park. It is a rubber handle on one of the jungle gym instruments. What I find interesting about it is that it is the only piece of rubber which I could find on the whole playground, rubber matting excepted. It has been used in a specific situation ( as a flexible support mechanism) for a specific reason. It utilises the flexible, durable properties of rubber in a playground full of plastic and steel. Although the steel and plastic build the playground, it is the rubber which the child connects with, and interacts.
This image reveals another application of rubber, also at Waitangi Park. In this case it has been used to seal and cap the holes created by the bolts which connect the wooden planks to the structure below. What I enjoy here is that the rubber circles become part of the design, and are not only a measure to enhance durability. I really like the texture of the rubber again, even at this small scale because it is by no means a strong design aspect, but to me it becomes very strong, possibly because it is so small and seemingly quiet.





























































References

Jones, L (2003). "Reinventing the garden Chaumont - Global Inspirations from the Loire" Thames and Hudson

Schwartz, M (2002). "Encyclopedia of Materials, parts and finishes" CRC Press LLC

Branz Study Report, "Estimates of the Durability of Building Plastics and Rubbers in Exterior Applications" W.R.Sherman and N.L.Van Gosliga

Jackson, Lance (2006) "Owner of Rubber Solutions in Upper Hutt, Wellington" Site visit: 18/07/06. 10:00am

http://www.ces.clemson.edu/arts/researchjay.html Asphalt rubber 16/7/06

http://www.norarubber.com/Products/Properties/rubberproperties/print_e.cfm?page=rubber_properties_us.htm Retrieved 19/7/06

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/10504/html/usa/asphalt.htm Asphalt rubber 17/7/06

http://www.playsaftesurfacing.com Rubber Mulch. Retrieved 12/7/06

http://www.softsurfaces.co.uk/ Retrieved 19/7/06

http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&w=1&txt=rubber&p=2 Retrieved 19/7/06

http://www.trelleborg.com/template/T005.asp?id=775&lang=2 Types of synthetic rubbers Retrieved 18/7/06

CNN article about recycled rubber used in sidewalks

USA

Manufacturing / extraction processes

Rubber is found in two forms, natural and synthetic. Natural rubber comes from "tapping" into rubber trees and extracting latex from the tree. The main source of natural latex is the tree, Hevea brasiliensis. H. brasiliensis is native to South America, but can be found in Asia as well.

Synthetic Rubber is made using petroleum. Carbon containing molecules are the basic building blocks of synthetic rubber. Petroleum produces dienes, which are then reacted, forming polymers. Polymers make up all synthetic rubber.

Material properties

Natural Rubber

  • Water repellant
  • Resistant to alkalines and weak acids
  • Elastic
  • Tough
  • Adhesiveness
  • Resistant to electricity

Synthetic Rubber

  • Ages and weathers slower than natural rubber
  • Higher resistance to oil solvents, oxygen, ozone, and certain chemicals
  • Resilient over a wider temperature range than natural rubber
  • Less heat build up from flexing
  • Greater resistance to tear at high temperatures

Common fixing methods & finish of materials

Rubber can be used for soft and safe landings for children

Rubber is used in thousands of commercial applications. It is used for many different applications in commercial and residential uses. Rubber is also used in the landscape. Some examples of this use are rubberized mulch, playground surfaces, rubber asphalt, rubber pavers, rubber edging, and electrical line insulation. Crumbled rubber is used with sand as a subsoil for some turf applications. This mix of sand and rubber provide for a softer subsoil.

Closeup of rubber under the swingset














Durability and maintenance requirements

Rubber and oil mixture is used to fill cracks on our highways. This mix fills the crack while allowing for movement of the surfaces



Depending on the use of rubber, maintainence is fairly low due to its tough and resilient nature. In landscape mulch applications, rubber mulch does not need to be replaced nearly as often as natural mulching. Color does not fade unlike natural mulches, and the mulch is basically maintainence free.

Because rubber is so resistant to weathering, maintainence is very low. Rubber has a tendency to crack when exposed to cold environments. In this way, some rubber products need to be replaced.











Life-cycle / recycling possibilities

Rubberized mulch looks amazingly similar to organic mulch. The color does not fade and the mulch does not move or blow away

Rubber follows a linear path of uses during its life cycle.

  • Raw material
    • Material is extracted for use
  • Manufacture
    • Material is vulcanized and prepared to become a finished product
  • Use
    • Rubber material is used as products intended use
  • Recycle / Reuse
    • Rubber is broken down and used for different applications than originally intended
  • Disposal
    • After the rubber is done being used, the material is disposed of in landfills
  • Transportation
    • All previous processes are carried out by using rubber to transport other rubber


Recycling

Recycling rubber has become a large industry. Because rubber does not decay quickly, solutions to the problem were needed.

Currently, rubber is being recycled by:


  • Being crumbled
    • Playground uses


  • Being shredded
    • Landscaping mulch


  • Tires being reused
    • Tires retreaded for reuse on cars


  • Energy and material recovery


List of manufacturers / contractors / suppliers

Following is a list of the nearest companies that produce various rubber products

  • Midwest Rubber
    • Minneapolis, MN
  • Datwyler Rubber & Plastics, Inc.
    • Wayzata, MN
  • Dyneon
    • Oakdale, MN

References

Precedent One

Steph Falkers

  • Who knew that you could find rubber in so many places. The following is a collection of uses of rubber in the landscape here in Fargo, ND and Lino Lakes, MN. These are just a few of the many uses that I encountered.

A road patch made of rubber which obtained an interesting mark.

Road patch made of rubber

Use of rubber in a wearing curb

Landscape Border made of Rubber

Tree Surround made of rubberized mulch

Sidewalk with a rubber coating]]

Rubber Playground Surface

Rubber Playground Surface and a step with rubber coating

Rubber Playground Surface with Rubber swings

Wearing of playground surface

Precedent Two

jean beaupre

  • These are pictures of Rubber that I found in Fargo, ND as well as Wayzata, MN.


This is a recycled tire found in a park in Wayzata, MN.

This rubber edging around a garden pod with rubberized mulch

This is patch work at the Walmart.

This rubberized Mulch was found at a Home Depot.

Precedent Three

Kyle Slivnik


  • Rubber is found in many different forms in the landscape, whether it is being used for patching roads, playground equipment, or in residential landscape applications. Since its discovery, the world has benefitted from this amazing product.

Rubber liners are used to create ponds. This is an example of a rubber liner in use

Rubber resin edging is used in many landscape applications. This picture shows the application of both edging and rubber liner in a final product

A bag of Rubberized mulch before application

Rubber asphalt is being used more often to patch and create entire lenghts of roadways. This is an example of the rubber asphalt on an interstate exit ramp

Precedent four

David Prom


  • Rubber can be difficult to find in the everyday landscape. I found it most abundent in public playgrounds


rubber swing in south Fargo

the playground surface is made of rubber

This tire swing is made of recycled rubber

another rubber swing

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