| 1 | Material Identity | Polybutadiene rubber grade and polymer structure | Confirm whether the material is high-cis, medium-cis, or solution-grade polybutadiene, because cis content, vinyl content, molecular weight, and branching affect resilience, abrasion resistance, heat build-up, and processability. | Current technical data sheet, grade specification, and batch certificate of analysis | Critical |
| 2 | Core Quality | Mooney viscosity consistency | Set a product-specific target and tolerance, commonly evaluated using a standardized Mooney method such as ML(1+4) at 100°C. Lower batch-to-batch variation supports stable mixing and extrusion. | Test method, nominal value, tolerance range, and at least three recent lot results | Critical |
| 3 | Performance | Cis, vinyl, and glass-transition characteristics | Verify the structure required for the application. High-cis grades are generally selected for resilience and abrasion-related performance, while vinyl level and glass-transition temperature influence dynamic behavior and low-temperature response. | Polymer microstructure report, analytical method, and application test data | Critical |
| 4 | Contamination Control | Ash, volatile matter, gel, foreign particles, and metal contamination | Use agreed maximum limits appropriate to the end use. Contamination should be controlled through filtration, clean handling, protected storage, and documented nonconformance procedures. | Certificate of analysis, inspection plan, filtration controls, and corrective-action records | Critical |
| 5 | Quality Management | Manufacturing and laboratory control | Prefer documented quality systems, calibrated laboratory equipment, retained samples, lot traceability, change-control procedures, and a formal complaint-response process. | Quality certificate, audit summary, calibration records, traceability sample, and change-notification policy | High |
| 6 | Regulatory Compliance | Chemical registration, SDS, labeling, and destination-market obligations | Provide a current Safety Data Sheet in the required language and format, confirm applicable chemical registration responsibilities, and verify classification, labeling, and packaging rules for the destination country. | Current SDS, regulatory statement, transport classification, and local importer documentation | Critical |
| 7 | Restricted Substances | Product stewardship and customer-specific substance restrictions | Screen the product and packaging against applicable restricted-substance lists, including customer requirements, food-contact rules where relevant, and regional chemical regulations. | Compliance declaration, screening statement, test report where required, and packaging declaration | High |
| 8 | Packaging | Pack format, protection, labeling, and palletization | Agree on bale or case weight, polyethylene inner wrapping, moisture and contamination protection, pallet dimensions, maximum stack height, lot markings, and barcode requirements before order placement. | Packaging specification, label artwork, pallet diagram, and loading photographs | High |
| 9 | Storage and Shelf Life | Temperature, light, moisture, and stock rotation controls | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, ignition sources, and incompatible materials. Follow the supplier’s stated shelf-life and first-in, first-out requirements. | Storage statement, shelf-life declaration, SDS Section 7, and recommended stock-rotation procedure | High |
| 10 | Logistics Capability | Lead time, order flexibility, and delivery reliability | Evaluate quoted production lead time, minimum order quantity, monthly capacity allocation, shipment frequency, port options, customs-document accuracy, and contingency arrangements for delays. | Lead-time commitment, capacity statement, Incoterms® 2020 quotation, and on-time delivery records | Critical |
| 11 | International Trade Documents | Documentation completeness and consistency | Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, certificate of origin where applicable, SDS, customs classification, and batch documentation should match the shipped goods and purchase order. | Pre-shipment document pack and document-review checklist | High |
| 12 | Commercial Evaluation | Total landed cost and contract protection | Compare material price, freight, insurance, duties, inland delivery, inspection, financing, inventory carrying cost, and potential quality-loss cost rather than comparing the quoted unit price alone. | Landed-cost model, payment terms, price-adjustment clause, warranty terms, and claim procedure | High |
| 13 | Qualification Process | Sample approval and production validation | Conduct document review, laboratory testing, pilot mixing, application trials, packaging inspection, and first-commercial-lot approval before routine purchasing. | Approved sample record, trial report, signed specification, and first-lot release criteria | Critical |
| 14 | Sustainability and Risk | Energy, emissions, supply continuity, and responsible sourcing | Request relevant environmental data, energy or emissions information, business-continuity plans, raw-material risk controls, and notification procedures for major operational or formulation changes. | Sustainability statement, continuity plan, audit questionnaire, and change-notification commitment | Recommended |