Will chlorinated rubber disappear?

Every time you pass by the port and see those steel facilities that have been washed by the sea day and night but are still intact, you may not know that behind them there is an "invisible guardian" - chlorinated rubber. This material processed from natural rubber is like putting on a waterproof armor for metals, enabling ships and Bridges to resist the erosion of seawater. But recently, this "veteran" has encountered new challenges.

Environmental protection issues have become stumbling blocks. The traditional method of producing chlorinated rubber emits harmful substances, just as old-fashioned diesel vehicles give off black smoke. Nowadays, the whole world is engaged in environmental protection. Regions such as the European Union have begun to restrict such products. Many domestic shipyards have also started to switch to more environmentally friendly coatings. Just like when decorating our homes, more and more people choose water-based paint instead of regular paint.

However, scientists are thinking of ways. The new technologies developed now can partially replace petroleum with plant-based raw materials, and the production process is also cleaner. Even more impressive is that the improved chlorinated rubber has performed outstandingly in the protection of new energy vehicle batteries and is more corrosion-resistant than some new materials. Just as smartphones keep upgrading, chlorinated rubber is also evolving.

Ultimately, whether chlorinated rubber will disappear depends on whether it can keep up with the pace of the environmental protection era. Just as fuel vehicles won't disappear immediately, but a transition to new energy is necessary. As long as it keeps innovating, this century-old material can still find its new place. This tells us: There is no technology that is always backward; there are only thoughts that are unwilling to change.

Shandong AXA Chem Co.,Ltd

May 20, 2025