BENEFIT OF RUBBER

Rubber's ability to retain its elastic qualities throughout a wide temperature range has led to its employment in numerous industrial applications. Rubber is a material of choice for engineers and designers because to its many qualities. It may be produced using a variety of methods, such as sheeting, die- or machine-cut forms/gaskets, molded components, and extruded lengths that can be combined to create an infinite number of rings or other shapes.

Some of the properties include:

• The surface can be smooth and clean to assist hygienic applications.
• It can be used in direct contact with foodstuffs when processed appropriately.
• It can be bonded effectively to metals, plastics, engineering materials and other substrates.
• It can be inflated and pressurised.
• Temperatures ranging from -60°C to +300°C.
• Wide range of colours.
• Wide range of hardness.
• Resistance to extremes of weather and outdoor environments indefinitely.
• Electrically insulating, conductive or anti-static.
• Resistance to fuels, oils and chemicals while retaining its properties.
• Flame Retardant and self extinguishing types.
• Maintain tension and compression forces as in seals - even in hostile environments.
• Accommodates movement, shock, thermal changes, tolerance and rough surfaces.
• Absorbs vibration, noise and can insulate.
• Gas and fluid seal capability.
• With a low thermal conductivity it can reduce heat transfer.
• It has friction properties and is comfortable to grip.

Whilst no single material has all the desired properties, indeed some properties may only exist in one type of rubber, by understanding the application involved, the desired properties can often be achieved with careful selection and suitable compounding.

SECTION & COSTING OF RUBBER

The same general guidelines apply whether you need a new part or replacements for ones that don't live up to your expectations in terms of availability, performance, pricing, or quality. If parts are to be supplied to customer satisfaction at the proper price, effective communication is essential. Having a basic drawing or an existing sample is an excellent place to start, but getting your questions answered now will help you avoid surprises and problems down the road.

We strongly recommend that a specification is produced to consider and record the following points:

• Is it a new part or potential replacement of existing part?
• What is the expected usage - either batch or annually?
• Are there price constraints on parts or tooling?
• How is the component to be used?
• Willthere be movement, vibration or compression?
• Whatis the highest service temperature?
• Whatis the continuous service temperature?
• What is the lowest temperature the part must remain operable?
• What products (including cleaning agents) will be encountered?
• Is product contact continuous or intermittent?
• Islong term weather or ozone resistance important?
• Is there a specific surface finish required?
• Whatcolour?
• Whatare the tolerances?
• If the component is moulded, what amount and position of flash is allowable?

As was previously established, no single variety of rubber may provide all the necessary qualities. On the other hand, a cost-effective material and production method will emerge through excellent communication and comprehension of the needs.

RUBBER DIRECTORY

NATURAL RUBBER

The initial organic substance that has been in since the turn of the century, for commercial purposes. An extensively used rubber with a wide variety oflow expense aggregates.

PROPERTIES:

• High resilience.
• Wide range of hardnesses.
• Good compression set.
• Very strong - tear & abrasion resistant.

LIMITATIONS:

• Lack of resistance to oil and organic fluids.
• Poor resistance to ozone, weather & oxidation - tendency to perish in open air.
• Lowworking maximum temperature.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Duties requiring good tensile strength & wear resistance.
• Shock absorption.
• Dynamic components working inside equipment that are protected from constant air changes.

SBR RUBBER

Styrene Butadiene Rubber One of the cheaper synthetic rubbers which is easy to process in large quantities.

PROPERTIES:

• Good physical strength.
• Good tear & abrasion resistance.

LIMITATIONS:

• Poor resistance to oils or fuels.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Widely used in the Footwear (shoe sales) and Tyre industries.

EPDM RUBBER

Diene monomer of ethylene propylene One more low cost synthetic rubber, which was first created in the 1950s for use in the tire industry. Its increased usage was due to its exceptional resilience to weathering, ozone, and water.

PROPERTIES:

• Excellent water resistance, even at elevated temperatures.
• Good stability over long periods of time.
• Resistant to many water based chemicals.
• Excellent weathering resistance.

LIMITATIONS:

• Willnot resist oil or oil based products.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Potable water duties (WRC approved).
• 'O'Rings, Seals & Gaskets.
• General engineering not exposed to oil.

NEOPRENE RUBBER

Chloroprene Among the original synthetic rubbers created in an effort to find oil-resistant mixtures. widely utilized because of its broad range of practical qualities and a reasonable cost.

PROPERTIES:

• Resistant to oils & chemicals.
• Flame retardant (self extinguishing).
• Water & weather resistant.

LIMITATIONS:

• Not suitable for contact with fuels.
• Tendency to tear once initially damaged.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Most general engineering & mechanical applications, other than those in contact with fuel.

HYPALON RUBBER

Polyethylene Sulfonated with Chlorine One more rubber evolved in the 1950s. A mix of There are parallels between EPDM and Neoprene, including certain enhanced qualities.

PROPERTIES:

• Resistant to oils and chemicals, especially at elevated temperatures.
• Outstanding ozone & weathering resistance - stable over long periods of time.
• Water resistant.

LIMITATIONS:

• Notsuitable for contact with fuels.
• Not particularly resilient.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Heavy weather conditions.
• Where there is exposure to hot liquids.

NITRILE RUBBER

Betonitrileacrylonitrile An excellent oil-resistant rubber that functions fairly well when in touch with fuels. Higher resistance rubbers are available, but they cost a lot more money.

PROPERTIES:

• Good resistance to Petroleum based fluids - even at elevated temperatures.
• Very low level of permeability to gases.

LIMITATIONS:

• Flammable and burns with toxic fumes.
• Comparatively low resistance to ozone and weathering.
• Poor electrical strength.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Seals, Gaskets, 'O' Rings etc., in contact with petroleum based fluids.

THERBAN RUBBER

Typically, HNBR Hydrogenated Nitrile fills in the disparity between the two in terms of cost and performance Viton and nitrile.

PROPERTIES:

• Good physical strength with very good tear and abrasion resistance.
• Good dynamic behaviour with flex cracking resistance.
• Outstanding resistance to steam and hot water.
• Resists ozone and weathering.
• Maintains many ofits properties at elevated temperatures.

LIMITATIONS:

• Like Nitrile it has poor electrical and flame resistance.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Seals in vehicle engines.
• Diaphragms requiring good heat ageing properties and resistance to oils and chemicals.

SILICONE RUBBER

The polysiloxane Good flexibility and a smooth, clean appearance are the typical characteristics of this rubber. It exhibits exceptional resilience to weathering and a wide working temperature range.

PROPERTIES:

• Wide temperature range.
• Outstanding resistance to ozone & weathering.
• Good resistance to oils.
• Excellent electrical strength.
• Low level of toxicity.

LIMITATIONS:

• Not particularly strong, however careful.
• compounding can improve this e Not suitable for contact with fuels.
• Expensive compared to most other rubbers.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Situations involving extremes of high & low temperatures - Aerospace.
• Electrical applications.
• Contact with food stuffs (FDA).

VITON RUBBER

Suitable for the petrochemical sector, fluorocarbon The best overall resistance to harsh chemicals and lubricants is provided by this synthetic rubber, especially at high temperatures.

PROPERTIES:

• Good resistance to petroleum based fluids.
• Excellent chemical resistance.
• Strong with good tear and abrasion resistance.
• Excellent upper temperature capabilities.
• Good resistance to water.
• Outstanding oxidation, ozone and weather resistance.

LIMITATIONS:

• Limited use at lower temperatures.
• Very expensive compared to nearly all other rubbers.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Fluid sealing duties at elevated temperatures in contact with aggresive chemicals and petroleum products.

FLUOROSILICONE RUBBER

Fluorinated Polysiloxane is most appropriate in There are low temperature conditions. particularly when in touch with harmful substances like oil and gasoline.

PROPERTIES:

• Outstanding ozone and weather resistance.
• Resistant to fuels at lower temperatures.
• Excellent electrical strength.
• Very wide temperature range from -60 °C to 200°C.

LIMITATIONS:

• Not particularly strong with relatively poor tear and abrasion resistance.
• Extremely expensive.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Normally special applications where performance in extremes of temperature are required - Aerospace, petrochemical.

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