Ordinary accumulation cloth, a common cleaning or auxiliary material used in filming and projection settings, has a significant impact on its performance and lifespan. Traditional ordinary accumulation cloth, often made of basic fibers such as cotton and polyester, can meet basic cleaning needs, but it is prone to wrinkling, breaking, and cleaning blind spots when subjected to frequent bending, stretching, or lamination on complex surfaces. The introduction of SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) has significantly improved the flexibility of ordinary accumulation cloth through chemical modification and physical compounding. The improvements are reflected in the following aspects.
SBR's enhanced flexibility in ordinary accumulation cloth stems primarily from its unique molecular structure. SBR is a synthetic rubber formed by the copolymerization of butadiene and styrene, combining the high elasticity of rubber with the strength of plastic. When SBR is compounded with ordinary accumulation cloth fibers in emulsion or granular form, its molecular chains penetrate the interfiber spaces, forming a flexible cross-linked network. This structure allows the cloth to distribute stress through the expansion and contraction of its molecular chains when subjected to stress, preventing breakage caused by localized overstretching. For example, when wiping curved surfaces, traditional dust cloths tend to warp at the edges due to concentrated bending stress. However, the addition of SBR allows the cloth to better conform to the surface, reducing blind spots.
Secondly, the plasticizing effect of SBR further enhances the flexibility of ordinary accumulation cloths. The benzene ring structure in the SBR molecule provides rigid support, while the butadiene segments impart elasticity. During the compounding process, SBR chemically bonds with the hydroxyl or amino groups on the fiber surface, forming a stable interfacial layer. This layer not only strengthens the bond between the fibers but also cushions external impacts through the elasticity of the SBR. For example, when cleaning a movie projector lens, traditional dust cloths can break due to repeated wiping. However, SBR-compounded cloths absorb friction through elastic deformation, extending their service life.
Improved wear resistance is another key aspect of SBR's improved flexibility in ordinary accumulation cloths. In film scenes, dust cloths often come into contact with rough surfaces and sharp edges, and traditional cloths can easily become hardened and lose their flexibility due to wear. The addition of SBR creates a wear-resistant coating on the fabric surface with a moderate elastic modulus, providing resistance to friction while maintaining softness. For example, when wiping film, the SBR composite fabric can adapt to the film's surface micro-concavities through elastic deformation, preventing scratches while also reducing the hardening of the fabric caused by repeated friction.
The enhanced anti-aging properties also indirectly enhance the flexibility of ordinary accumulation cloth. The double bonds in the SBR molecule provide excellent stability against environmental factors such as UV rays and ozone, mitigating the fabric's brittleness caused by photooxidation. Traditional dust collection cloth tends to become brittle due to aging after long-term storage or outdoor use, but SBR composite fabric maintains long-term flexibility through the stability of its molecular structure. This characteristic is particularly important for film location shooting, where fabrics must adapt to varying climatic conditions. The anti-aging properties of SBR ensure its reliability in harsh environments.
Furthermore, the addition of SBR improves the resilience of ordinary accumulation cloth. Resilience refers to the ability of a material to return to its original shape after being subjected to force and directly affects user comfort. Traditional dust collection cloths can leave permanent wrinkles after folding or compressing due to poor fiber memory. However, SBR composite cloths can quickly restore their shape through the rapid reorganization of their molecular chains. For example, when storing film equipment, SBR composite cloths can be easily folded without creases, remaining flat the next time they are used, improving cleaning efficiency.
From a process perspective, the method of combining SBR with ordinary accumulation cloth also affects the final flexibility. Common composite processes include coating and co-spinning. Coating involves evenly applying an SBR emulsion to the cloth surface to form an elastic protective layer. Co-spinning involves mixing SBR particles with raw fiber to directly spin elastic fibers. The latter method significantly improves flexibility due to the uniform distribution of SBR within the fiber, but at a higher cost. The film industry often selects a process based on the application scenario, preferring co-spinning cloths for high-frequency cleaning applications and coating cloths for low-frequency applications.
In practical applications, SBR composite cloths have demonstrated significant advantages. A film studio reported that when using traditional dust-collecting cloths to clean projection equipment, they needed to be replaced 3-5 times per month. However, after switching to SBR composite cloth, the replacement frequency dropped to once a month, with significantly improved cleaning results. Users generally praised it as "softer, more durable, and easier to wipe." This feedback confirms the substantial improvement in the flexibility of ordinary accumulation cloths brought about by SBR, and has driven its widespread application in the film industry.
