rubber selection guide

fluororubber (FKM)
Advantages:fluororubber (FKM) is a special elastomer that can resist extreme heat, oil, gasoline, hydraulic oil and hydrocarbon solvents. It has good resistance to oxygen, ozone, and sunlight, and has good impermeability to gas and steam.
Disadvantages:fluororubber is generally not resistant to oxygen-containing solvents, and its tear resistance is relatively poor. The low temperature resistance is not good either, generally only about -25 degrees, which is expensive.
fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ)
advantages:fluorosilicone rubber (FSI,FVMQ) is a special elastomer, which has similar environmental stability and excellent temperature resistance to silicone, and has excellent fuel, oil, solvent and chemical medium resistance.
Disadvantages:fluorosilicone rubber (FSI,FVMQ) can be one of the most expensive polymers. Compared with silicone resin, fluorosilicone resin is limited by average tensile strength and poor bending resistance. In some applications, fluorosilicone rubber is not suitable for brake fluids, hydrazine and ketones.
silica gel (VMQ)
advantages:silica gel (SI,VMQ) is a special elastomer, famous for its ability to adapt to a wide temperature range. Silicone rubber can show excellent ozone resistance, weather resistance, oxidation, compression concentration and medium chemical resistance. Its high biocompatibility makes silicone an ideal choice for the medical industry. Silicone resin has good vibration damping performance and overall good dynamic performance at high temperature.
Disadvantages:silicone resins (SI,VMQ) are usually limited by average tensile strength and poor fuel, solvent, wear and bending properties. It is usually highly permeable to gases and can be expensive.
hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR)
advantages:nitrile rubber (HNBR) is a special polymer with high physical properties. It is tough and wear-resistant. It can show excellent resistance to oil, solvent and hydraulic oil. HNBR has good ozone, oxidation resistance and chemical resistance.
Disadvantages:hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) is not recommended for applications involving highly polar fluids, aromatic hydrocarbons or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Poor high temperature resistance and high price.
EPDM rubber
advantages:EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) elastomer can be used to resist ozone, oxygen and thermal degradation, and is often recommended for outdoor applications. It can show good resistance to water, steam, alkali, acid and oxygen-containing solvents. EPDM rubber has good low temperature flexibility and can be vulcanized with sulfur and peroxide.
Disadvantages:EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is not recommended for applications that require oil, gasoline and hydrocarbon resistance. EPDM rubber has poor compression deformation performance and poor adhesion to fabrics and metals.
Chlorohydrin Rubber (ECO)
advantages:Chlorohydrin rubber (ECO,CO) is a special elastomer, which has good resistance to ozone, light and oxidation compared with nitrile rubber in terms of solvent resistance (excellent resistance to oil, fuel and petroleum-based hydraulic fluid). It has very low air permeability and good heat resistance.
Disadvantages:In general, chlorol rubber compounds are more expensive than nitrile rubber. Not suitable for steam, ketones, esters and chlorinated solvents.
butyl rubber (IIR)
advantages:butyl rubber is famous for its air tightness and is often used for air sealing. It can have good heat resistance, oxygen resistance, ozone resistance and sunlight resistance. In addition, it can also provide excellent resistance to alkalis, acids and oxygen-containing solvents. It has a high energy absorption capacity and can be a good electrical insulator.
Disadvantages:butyl is not recommended for applications requiring oil, gasoline and hydrocarbon solvent resistance. Butyl rubber has poor processing performance.
natural rubber (NR)
advantages:natural rubber (polyisoprene, NR) has excellent wear resistance, tensile strength and elasticity. It has good adhesion to fabrics and metals, and has good low-temperature flexibility. Natural rubber is generally resistant to medium chemicals, alcohols, ketones and aldehydes.
Disadvantages:natural rubber (polyisoprene, NR) is not suitable for applications involving outdoor exposure (ozone, heat aging and oxidation resistance). Natural rubber has poor resistance to corrosive chemicals, petroleum derivatives, fats and non-polar solvents.
neoprene (CR)
advantages:For general applications, neoprene (polychloroprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, CR) is known for its versatility. It can show good resistance to ozone, oxygen, sunlight, alkali and acid. Neoprene has good flame retardant properties. It can provide good tensile strength, elasticity and moderate oil resistance and gasoline resistance.
Disadvantages:neoprene (polychloroprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, CR) provides moderate oil resistance, but is not recommended for harsh fuel and hot oil products. It has poor resistance to aromatic and oxygen-containing solvents. Neoprene is also limited by low temperature flexibility.
nitrile rubber (NBR)
advantages:For products requiring oil resistance, butyronitrile (butadiene acrylonitrile, BUNAN,NBR) is the preferred polymer. It has excellent resistance to petroleum, gasoline, petroleum-based hydraulic fluids and hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, it can also provide good alkali and acid resistance. Nitrile rubber can adapt to a wide temperature range.
Disadvantages:nitrile rubber (butadiene acrylonitrile, BUNAN,NBR) is not recommended for applications exposed to ozone, weathering, heat and sunlight. It has poor resistance to polar solvents such as esters, ketones, chlorinated solvents or nitro carbons.
polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
advantages:Polyvinyl chloride (polyvinyl chloride, vinyl) can add many kinds of additives to meet various specific end uses. It is versatile and cost-effective. Generally speaking, PVC is strong, elastic, non-conductive and moisture-proof. It has good flame retardant properties and will extinguish itself when the flame is removed. PVC materials come in various colors.
Disadvantages:polyvinyl chloride (polyvinyl chloride, vinyl) is limited by poor low temperature performance. When subjected to high heat and mechanical stress, PVC is not recommended because the elastomer becomes soft and deformed. Long-term exposure to sunlight can cause color fading.
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
advantages:styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is a synthetic general-purpose rubber with properties similar to natural rubber. It is a low-cost polymer that can show excellent impact and tensile strength. It has good rebound performance, wear resistance and low temperature flexibility.
Disadvantages:styrene-butadiene rubber (styrene-butadiene rubber) is similar to that of natural rubber. It is limited by ozone, sunlight, petroleum, gasoline and hydrocarbon solvents.
polyurethane (AU,EU)
advantages:polyurethane (AU,EU) has excellent resistance to ozone, sunlight, medium chemicals, fats, oils and oils. It has excellent wear resistance, high tensile strength and good elongation. Polyurethane is well combined with metal and fabric.
Disadvantages:polyurethane (AU,EU) is usually attacked by alkali, acid and oxygen-containing solvents. It usually exhibits poor compression deformation and is more expensive.
chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM)
advantages:CSM(Hypalon®, chlorosulfonated polyethylene) is recognized as an excellent wear-resistant rubber. It is well resistant to ozone, light and oxidation. CSM can show good stability and flame retardancy to oils and corrosive chemicals.
DisadvantagesCSM(Hypalon®, chlorosulfonated polyethylene) is more expensive than most general-purpose elastomers. If products need to be in contact with fuel, aromatic solvents and hot oil, CSM is not recommended. Generally, the resilience and compression deformation of CSM are not good.