Rubber toughening and damage competition theory. In material selection it is important to look at the interaction between the matrix and the secondary phase. For example, crosslinking within the rubber phase will promote high strength fibril formation that will toughen the rubber, preventing particle fracture. Carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylotnitrile (CTBN) is often used to toughen epoxies, but using CTBN alone increases the toughness at the cost of stiffness and heat resistance. Amine-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (ATBN) is also used. Using ultra-fine full-vulcanized powdered rubber (UFPR) researchers have been able to improve all three, toughness, stiffness, and heat resistance simultaneously, resetting the stage for rubber toughening
Kraton (polymer) Kraton (polymer) Kraton is the trade name given to a number of high performance elastomers manufactured by Kraton Polymers (), and used as synthetic replacements for rubber. Kraton polymers offers many of the properties of natural rubber, such as flexibility, high traction, and sealing abilities, but with increased resistance to heat, weathering, and chemicals. It was first made by the chemical division of the Shell Oil Company in the 1950s, under the technical leadership of Norman R. Legge. Shell sold its Kraton polymers business to private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings in March 2001. Kraton polymers are styrenic block copolymer (SBC)