A Chinese company has invented a new kind of rubber which is healthier for users and the environment.
The new kind of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), developed by a plant affiliated to the Qilu Petrochemical Corporation in east China's Shandong Province, contains a lower ratio of nitrosamine than traditionally produced SBRs.
Nitrosamine is believed to be an environmental pollutant and a possible cause of cancer, experts said.
SBR is widely used to produce various products such as car tyres, transmission belts and toys.
The rubber plant's daily output of SBR is expected to reach 500tons, sources said.
(People's Daily September 2, 2002)