What is SBR rubber and what are SBR rubber granules?
SBR rubber is so called because SBR stands for styrene-butadiene rubber, a synthetic rubber made from styrene and butadiene.
SBR rubber describes a vulcanised rubber compound based on styrene-butadiene rubber. SBR rubber granules consist of crushed, already vulcanised rubber containing SBR; they are not granulated raw rubber.
SBR was developed in the late 1920s and was known in Germany as Buna S. It is among the synthetic rubbers produced in the greatest volumes, with a large proportion used in tyre manufacturing. Other applications include conveyor belts, industrial hoses, shoe soles and floor coverings.
In WARCO rubber tiles, the SBR content comes from recycled tyre rubber granules (ELT). These rubber granules are produced by processing end-of-life tyres. Their rubber content consists predominantly of SBR and natural rubber, alongside other constituents of the vulcanised tyre compound.
The SBR-containing recycled tyre rubber granules form an elastic base. The properties of the finished rubber tile also depend on the tyre compound, particle size, PU binder and compaction.
Compared with EPDM, SBR is more sensitive to ozone and UV radiation. In two-layer tiles, coloured EPDM granules form the wearing layer, which is more weather-resistant. The recycled tyre rubber granules form the elastic backing layer beneath the wearing layer.