Research Situation and Prospect Analysis of Corrosion of Rubber Materials: A Study Based on Bibliometric Mapping

Abstract

Rubber materials are widely used in industrial sectors such as petrochemicals and energy due to their excellent elasticity, flexibility, and sealing properties. However, in complex and demanding service environments, rubber is susceptible to swelling or dissolution caused by medium corrosion, leading to seal failure or structural damage and ultimately resulting in safety incidents. To systematically review research progress and trends in this field, this paper employs 729 literature samples from the Web of Science core database (2008–2025) and utilizes VOSviewer and Citespace knowledge mapping tools to conduct a bibliometric analysis of corrosion research on rubber materials. This reveals existing knowledge gaps, technological challenges, hot trends, and future demands. Findings indicate that China, the United States, and India lead in publication volume. Research spans multiple disciplines including multidisciplinary materials science, applied physics, and polymer science, reflecting a cross-disciplinary nature. Current rubber corrosion studies focus on three key areas: fundamental properties and performance of rubber materials, corrosion mechanisms, and protective/corrosion-resistant technologies. Key international challenges include unclear mechanisms of complex media interactions, insufficient multi-scale characterization and life prediction, and limited adaptability to service environments. Future development trends will concentrate on three aspects: systematic research on novel multi-media coupling effects, precision in micro-mechanism and life prediction, and highly reliable advancement in green modification and high-performance protection.