Rubber Types and Uses

Natural Rubber

  • Great abrasion resistance, tear strength, and resiliency
  • Low compression set and high tensile strength
  • Poor ozone, heat, and sun resistance
  • Common uses include shock absorption such as bushings, bumpers, and cushions
  • Lacrosse balls are commonly made from natural rubber

EPDM

  • Excellent resistance to ozone, heat, and weather
  • Great for electrical insulation purposes
  • Not recommended for use with oil and gas
  • Commonly used for weatherproofing applications

SBR

  • Developed to be a substitute for Natural Rubber
  • Great abrasion resistance 
  • Great water resistance and can provide grip in wet applications.
  • Common uses include tires and shoe soles

Neoprene

  • Good durability for many common household applications
  • Good weathering resistance
  • Commonly used in household products and water resistant seals
  • Can also be used for flame resistant applications

FKM (Viton)

  • Viton brand developed and owned by DuPont
  • Excellent resistance to oil, gas, and other chemicals
  • High heat resistance vs most other materials
  • Commonly used for gaskets, O-rings, and chemical intensive applications

Silicone

  • Good resistance to extreme temperatures
  • Can be designed to be flame retardant, electrically conductive, oil/gas resistant, and chemical/acid resistant
  • Used in a wide range of industries including automotive, food handling, electronics, and many others

NBR (Nitrile)

  • Good oil and chemical resistance
  • Poor weathering resistance
  • Good abrasion resistance and good compression set
  • Commonly used for gaskets, hoses, and oil seals

HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile)

  • Nitrile that has been improved for better heat resistance
  • Improved chemical resistance over standard Nitrile
  • Commonly used for automotive and oil field applications

Butyl

  • Great weathering, sun, and ozone resistance
  • Good abrasion resistance and resistance to chemicals/acids
  • Uses include seals in pharmaceutical and chemical intensive industries

Having trouble deciding?

Graham Rubber is happy to help our customers identify which material will be most suitable for each application