Specialised Engineering Products Limited

RUBBER DIRECTORY

Natural Rubber

Isoprene
The original natural material which has been in commercial use since the turn of the last century. A widely developed rubber with a large range of low cost compounds.
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
Low working 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

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SBR

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

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EPDM

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer
Another low cost synthetic rubber, originally developed in the 1950s for use within the tyre manufacturing industry. It became more widely used because of its outstanding resistance to ozone, weathering 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:
Will not resist oil or oil based products
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Potable water duties (WRC approved)
‘O’ Rings, Seals & Gaskets
General engineering not exposed to oil

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Neoprene

Chloroprene
One of the first synthetic rubbers developed in the search for oil resistant compounds. Extensively used due to its wide range of useful properties and comparatively low price.
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

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Hypalon

Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene
Another rubber developed around the 1950s. A combination of similarities between both EPDM & Neoprene, with some improved characteristics. PROPERTIES:
Resistant to oils and chemicals, especially at elevated temperatures
Outstanding ozone & weathering resistance - stable over long periods of time
Water resistant
LIMITATIONS:
Not suitable for contact with fuels
Not particularly resilient
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Heavy weather conditions
Where there is exposure to hot liquids

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Nitrile

Acrylonitrilebutadiene
A good quality oil resistant rubber with reasonable performance in contact with fuels. There are rubbers with higher degrees of resistance, but these are much more expensive.
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
Sealing against gases

Therban

HNBR
Hydrogenated Nitrile generally bridges the gap in relation to performance and cost between Nitrile and Viton. 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 of its 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

Polysiloxane
This rubber is generally characterised by its clean, smooth appearance with good flexibility. It has an excellent range of working temperatures and outstanding resistance to weathering.
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
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

Fluorocarbon
Suited to the petrochemical industry, this synthetic rubber offers the best all round resistance to hostile chemicals and oils particularly at elevated 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

Fluorinated Polysiloxane
Best suited where conditions of low temperature are present especially in contact with hostile chemicals, oil and fuel.
PROPERTIES:
Outstanding ozone and weather resistance
Resistant to fuels at lower temperatures
Excellent electrical strength
Very wide temperature range from -60 to 200 centigrade
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