Nitrile:
Nitrile (also known as NBR or Buna or Buna-N) is a synthetic rubber material that offers excellent resistance to oils, fuels, and chemicals, making it a popular choice for a wide range of industrial and automotive applications.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting materials for nitrile:
- Chemical Resistance: Nitrile is highly resistant to oils, fuels, and chemicals, but may not be suitable for use with certain types of acids or solvents.
- Temperature Range: Nitrile can typically withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to 120°C, depending on the specific grade of the material.
- Compression Set: Nitrile has excellent compression set resistance, making it ideal for use in sealing applications.
- Abrasion Resistance: Nitrile can be susceptible to wear and tear in applications where it is exposed to abrasive materials.
- Applications: Industrial and Automotive.
Flourocarbon:
Fluorocarbon (also known as FKM or Viton – trademarked name by DuPont) is a fluoroelastomer material that offers exceptional resistance to chemicals, fuels, and high temperatures.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting materials for Viton:
- Chemical Resistance: Viton has outstanding resistance to a wide range of chemicals, fuels, and solvents, making it ideal for use in harsh chemical environments.
- Temperature Range: Viton can withstand temperatures ranging from -20°C to 250°C, making it suitable for use in high-temperature applications. However, the specific grade of Viton chosen should be carefully considered, as not all grades are suitable for high-temperature applications.
- Compression Set: Viton has excellent compression set resistance, making it ideal for use in sealing applications.
- Abrasion Resistance: Viton is highly resistant to wear and tear, making it ideal for use in applications where it will be exposed to abrasive materials.
- Application: In Chemical Processing, Aerospace, Automotive, Oil & Gas industry
EPDM:
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (also known as EPDM or EP rubber) is a synthetic rubber material that offers excellent resistance to weathering, ozone, UV radiation, and chemicals, making it a popular choice for a wide range of industrial and automotive applications.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting materials for EPDM:
- Chemical Resistance: EPDM offers good resistance to many chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and polar solvents, but may not be suitable for use with some oils, fuels, and non-polar solvents.
- Temperature Range: EPDM can typically withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to 150°C, depending on the specific grade of the material.
- Compression Set: EPDM has good compression set resistance, making it ideal for use in sealing applications.
- Abrasion Resistance: EPDM offers good resistance to wear and tear, but may not be suitable for use in applications where it will be exposed to abrasive materials.
- Electrical Resistance: EPDM has good electrical insulation properties, making it ideal for use in electrical applications.
- Application: Automotive, HVAC, Agricultural, Households and Solar.
Neoprene:
Neoprene (also known as Chloroprene) is a synthetic rubber material that offers excellent resistance to weathering, ozone, and abrasion, making it a popular choice for a wide range of industrial and automotive applications.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting materials for neoprene:
- Chemical Resistance: Neoprene offers good resistance to many chemicals, including oils, fuels, and some solvents, but may not be suitable for use with some acids and alkalis.
- Temperature Range: Neoprene can typically withstand temperatures ranging from -30°C to 120°C, depending on the specific grade of the material.
- Compression Set: Neoprene has good compression set resistance, making it ideal for use in sealing applications.
- Abrasion Resistance: Neoprene offers excellent resistance to wear and tear, making it ideal for use in applications where it will be exposed to abrasive materials.
- Flexibility: Neoprene is a very flexible material that can be easily moulded into complex shapes, making it ideal for use in a wide range of applications.
- Applications: Industrial, Marine and Salt application.
Butyl:
Butyl (also known as Isobutylene or Isoprene) rubber is a synthetic rubber material that offers excellent air and gas impermeability, making it a popular choice for use in industrial applications such as tire inner tubes, hoses, and gaskets.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting materials for butyl rubber:
- Chemical Resistance: Butyl rubber offers good resistance to many chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and polar solvents, but may not be suitable for use with some oils, fuels, and non-polar solvents.
- Temperature Range: Butyl rubber can typically withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to 120°C, depending on the specific grade of the material.
- Gas Impermeability: Butyl rubber has excellent gas impermeability, making it ideal for use in applications where air and gas retention is critical.
- Flexibility: Butyl rubber is a very flexible material that can be easily moulded into complex shapes, making it ideal for use in a wide range of applications.
- Electrical Resistance: Butyl rubber has good electrical insulation properties, making it ideal for use in electrical applications.
- Application: Automotive, Oil & Gas and Industrial.
Silicone:
Silicone (also known as VMQ) is a synthetic polymer that has excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, and electrical insulation properties. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications, including automotive, medical, and electronic applications.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting materials for Silicone rubber:
- Temperature range: Silicone can withstand temperatures ranging from -60°C to 230°C (-76°F to 446°F), making it suitable for high-temperature applications.
- Chemical resistance: Silicone is generally resistant to water, most chemicals, and UV radiation. However, it may not be suitable for applications that involve exposure to harsh chemicals, such as acids or solvents.
- Electrical insulation: Silicone has excellent electrical insulation properties, making it an ideal material for electronic and electrical applications.
- Flexibility: Silicone is flexible and can maintain its flexibility even at low temperatures, making it suitable for applications that require flexibility in extreme temperature conditions.
- Compression set: Silicone has a low compression set, meaning it can return to its original shape after compression, making it suitable for sealing and gasket applications.
- Tear resistance: Silicone has good tear resistance, which makes it suitable for applications where durability is important.
- FDA approval: Silicone is approved by the FDA for use in Pharmaceutical, food and beverage applications, making it an ideal material for the production of components to be used in Pharmaceutical Processing, kitchenware, cookware, and other food-related products
- Application: Pharmaceuticals, Food and Beverage Industry, Medical, Automotive, Electronics, Construction, Aerospace.
Natural rubber:
Natural rubber (also known as NR or latex or Natural Isoprene) is a common elastomer derived from the sap of rubber trees. It is a highly versatile material with excellent mechanical properties, including high tensile strength, good elasticity, and abrasion resistance.
- Temperature range: Natural rubber has a working temperature range of -50°C to 80°C, and it is not recommended for use in applications where the temperature exceeds this range.
- Chemical resistance: Natural rubber has good resistance to most organic acids, alcohols, and ketones, but it is not recommended for use in applications that involve exposure to oils, greases, and most hydrocarbons.
- Abrasion resistance: Natural rubber has excellent abrasion resistance, making it an ideal material for use in applications that involve high wear and tear.
- Electrical insulation: Natural rubber has good electrical insulation properties, which makes it suitable for use in electrical and electronic applications.
- Compression set: Natural rubber has a high compression set, which means that it may not be suitable for use in applications that require low compression set.
- UV resistance: Natural rubber is not recommended for use in outdoor applications that involve exposure to sunlight or UV radiation, as it is prone to degradation.
- Application: Industrial, Automotive, Medical, Construction, Consumer Goods.