Give merits and demerits of rubber as a material for closure.
Merits of rubber:
1) Soft in nature.
2) It is quite elastic therefore self sealing property
3) It withstands in the temperature & pressure of an autoclave therefore can be sterilised.
Demerits of rubber:
1) Rubber closure should not be very hard otherwise it will create difficulty in piercing by hypodermic needle.
2) It significantly absorbs bactericides and active ingredients
3) Some of additives Such as Activators, Vulcanising agents, pigments, may get extracted into the product
4) Process cost is very high.