Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of the materials designated synthetic elastomers and the elastomeric or rubbery state. Subsequent entries describe the individual classes of elastomers in detail. The principal classes of synthetic elastomers covered here or elsewhere in the Encyclopedia are acrylic elastomers, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-propylene–diene rubber, fluorocarbon elastomers, nitrile rubber, polybutadiene, polychloroprene, polyethers, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, silicones, polysulfide rubber, and polyurethanes.