Nitrile rubber, or NBR, stands as the ideal choice for applications demanding excellent resistance to oil, fuel, and chemicals. It finds widespread use in both industrial and automotive settings, serving as a key component in products like fuel and oil handling hoses, seals, grommets, hydraulic hoses, and O-rings.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Nitrile/Buna N
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: NBR ASTM D2000: BF, BG,BK, CH
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-40F to 250F
RECOMMENDED USAGEOil, Petrolium and High wear
NON RECOMMENDED USAGEOzone, Tear, Ketones and Ester
DUROMETER RANGE30-95 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONIndustrial and automotive, in products such as fuel and oil handling hoses, seals grommets, hydraulic hoses and o-rings.

Silicone, renowned as one of the most versatile rubber compounds, boasts an exceptional temperature range from -80°F to 550°F, surpassing all counterparts in both insulation and flexibility within various electrical applications. Its non-conductive nature and ability to retain dielectric strength make it a standout choice, with the additional option to be formulated for conductivity. Moreover, silicone offers the flexibility of color matching to any Pantone/RAL standard.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Silicon
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: MQ, VMQ, PVMQ ASTM D2000: FC, FE, GE
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-80F to 550F
RECOMMENDED USAGEFlexibility, Compression Set Resistance, UV, Ozone, Static Applications
NON RECOMMENDED USAGETear, Abrasion and Tensile Strength, Dynamic Application
DUROMETER RANGE10-85 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONElectrical, Fluid Control, Medical

EPDM, a highly versatile synthetic rubber, finds extensive use across various industries, spanning automotive to HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). Its widespread application owes to its remarkable resistance to water, steam, oxidation, ozone, acids, and alkalis, coupled with its ability to endure significant temperature variations ranging from -60ºF to +150ºF.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: EPDM ASTM D2000: BA, CA, DA
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-60F to 300F
RECOMMENDED USAGEWeather, Ozone and Water
NON RECOMMENDED USAGEOils and Water Steam
DUROMETER RANGE25-95 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONAutomotive, Heating, Ventilation and Conditioning

Fluoroelastomers stand out as the rubber of choice, boasting the broadest spectrum of fluid and chemical resistance within the commercial rubber market. With outstanding resistance to oils, fuels, lubricants, and most mineral acids, this high-performance synthetic rubber excels in temperature resistance and exhibits low gas permeability. Furthermore, the fluorine content can be tailored to enhance specific performance properties tailored to your unique application needs.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Viton®
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: FKM, FFKM ASTM D2000: HK
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-20F to 550F
RECOMMENDED USAGEChemicals, Heat, Oil and Petroleums
NON RECOMMENDED USAGELimited Resistance to Steam, Hot Water and Methanol, Low Temperatures
DUROMETER RANGE60-90 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONAerospace, medical, chemical.

Neoprene stands out for its exceptional versatility. This rubber exhibits robust mechanical strength, resilience against ozone and weathering, and impressive resistance to aging. It forms strong bonds with metal and displays good resistance to specific chemicals. Neoprene is further recognized for its self-extinguishing properties and can be tailored to meet the stringent standards of mass transit industries, such as ASTM C1166, E162, E662, and SMP800C.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Neoprene
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: CR ASTM D2000: BC, BE
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-65F to 250F
RECOMMENDED USAGEAbrasion, Ozone and Flame Retardant
NON RECOMMENDED USAGEUV, Heat, Ketones and Ester
DUROMETER RANGE20-90 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONIndustrial

Fluorosilicone rubber, an inorganic ‘hybrid’ elastomer, blends the extensive temperature range capabilities of silicone with certain chemical resistance properties found in fluorocarbon rubber. However, owing to its silicone foundation, fluorosilicones tend to have relatively lower tear strength, abrasion resistance, and tensile strength, making them less suitable for dynamic applications.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Fluorosilicone
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: FKM, FFKM ASTM D2000: HK
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-65F to 450F
RECOMMENDED USAGEHeat, Oils and Fuels
NON RECOMMENDED USAGETear, Abrasion and Tensile strength
DUROMETER RANGE40-70 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONChemical and Hydrocarbon Fuel Seals.

Natural rubber is characterized by its ease of processing, offering good performance at low temperatures, exceptional elongation, and high resistance to tears and abrasions. It functions effectively within a useful temperature range spanning from -60ºF to +170ºF and readily bonds to metal surfaces. However, it’s worth noting that natural rubber exhibits shortcomings in resisting ozone, oxygen, sunlight, solvents, and oils.

DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES TABLE

MATERIAL NAME(S)Natural rubber
MATERIAL CODESASTM D1418: FVMQ ASTM D2000: FK
SERVICE TEMPERATURE RANGE-60F to 170F
RECOMMENDED USAGECompression Set, Abrasion, Tear and Electrical Insulation
NON RECOMMENDED USAGEOzone, Strong Acids, Oil and Petroleums
DUROMETER RANGE25-90 Shore A
MOST COMMON APPLICATIONAbrasive Protection, Vibration dampening, Diaphragms.