Natural Rubber Products

Physical & Mechanical Properties / Chemical Resistance / Thermal Properties / Environmental Performance / Natural Rubber Applications

What is Natural Rubber?

Natural rubber, also known as polyisoprene rubber, is composed of polymers of the compound isoprene, along with impurities from other organic compounds and some water. It is harvested in the form of latex from the sap of rubber trees, which is then refined into natural rubber for processing. Natural rubber is both an elastomer and a thermoplastic, and vulcanizing it creates a thermoset material.

Natural rubber is widely used in various applications and industries, either alone or compounded with other materials. Some of its advantages include high durability, an impressive stretch ratio, and excellent water impermeability.

Read more below to discover the advantages and properties of natural rubber:

Advantages of Natural Rubber

  • Extensive Hardness Range
  • Color ranges from translucent (soft rubber) to black (hard rubber)
  • Natural rubber can be compounded to meet specific application requirements
  • Outstanding vibration dampening and noise silencing properties
  • Can be manufactured for both electrical insulating or full conductivity
  • Protection and sealing properties

Properties of Natural Rubber

  • ASTM D-2000 Classification AA (Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications)
  • Chemical Definition: Polyisoprene
  • Abbreviations: NR

Processing

  • Transfer Molding
  • Injection Molding
  • Compression Molding

Physical & Mechanical Properties

  • Durometer: 30 – 95 Shore A
  • Tensile Strength: 500 – 3,500 PSI
  • Elongation (Range %): 300% – 900%
  • Abrasion Resistance: Good – Excellent
  • Adhesion to Metal: Excellent
  • Adhesion to Rigid Materials: Excellent
  • Compression Set: Excellent
  • Flex Cracking Resistance: Excellent
  • Impact Resistance: Good – Excellent
  • Resilience & Rebound: Excellent
  • Tear Resistance: Good – Excellent
  • Vibration Dampening: Good – Excellent

Chemical Resistance

  • Dilute Acids: Fair – Excellent
  • Concentrated Acids: Poor – Good
  • Organic Acids (Dilute): Fair – Good
  • Organic Acids (Concentrated): Good
  • Inorganic Acids: Good
  • Alcohols: Good – Excellent
  • Aldehydes: Good
  • Dilute Alkalies: Fair – Excellent
  • Concentrated Alkalies: Fair – Good
  • Amines: Poor – Fair
  • Animal & Vegetable Oils: Poor – Good
  • Non-Petroleum Brake Fluieds: Good
  • Diester Oils: Poor
  • Alkyl Phosphate Esters: Poor
  • Aryl Phosphate Esters: Poor
  • Ethers: Poor
  • Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Poor
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Poor
  • Extended Fuel (Oxygenated): Poor
  • Halogenated Solvents: Poor
  • Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Poor
  • Ketones: Fair – Good
  • Lacquer Solvents: Poor
  • LP Gases & Fuel Oils: Poor
  • Mineral Oils: Poor
  • Oil Resistance: Poor
  • Aromatic Petroleum: Poor
  • Non-Aromatic Petroleum: Poor
  • Ammonia Refrigerant: Good
  • Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons: R-12, R-13
  • Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons with Oil: Poor
  • Silicone Oil: Good
  • Solvent Resistance: Poor

Thermal Properties

  • Low Temperature Range: -20ºF – -70ºF
  • Minimum for Continuous Use (Static): -60ºF
  • Brittle Point: -80ºF
  • High Temperature Range: +180ºF – +220ºF
  • Maximum for Continuous Use (Static): +180ºF

Environmental Performance

  • Colorability: Poor
  • Flame Resistance: Fair – Good
  • Gas Permeability: Fair – Good
  • Odor: Good – Excellent
  • Ozone Resistance: Poor
  • Oxidation Resistance: Good
  • Radiation Resistance: Fair – Good
  • Steam Resistance: Good
  • Sunlight Resistance: Poor – Fair
  • Taste Retention: Fair – Good
  • Weather Resistance: Poor – Fair
  • Water Resistance: Excellent

Applications of Natural Rubber

Natural Rubber’s exceptional strength and compression set make it an ideal material for various engineering applications and many other industries:

  • Anti-Vibration Mounts
  • Tires
  • Springs
  • Bearings
  • Adhesives
  • Rubber Bands
  • Shock Mounts
  • Gaskets
  • Seals
  • Rolls
  • Hoses and Tubing

*Natural rubber is NOT RECOMMENDED for applications in which components are exposed to ozone, oils, or solvents.

Natural Rubber Molding | Polyisoprene Natural Rubber Molding | Natural Rubber Products

Qualiform ISO Certified Natural Rubber Manufacturer

As an ISO-certified natural rubber manufacturer, Qualiform Inc. provides a full range of custom rubber molding solutions. Qualiform also offers the ability to mold standard OEM replacement stars, custom finger lengths and configurations. Customers looking to develop a recycling star for their natural rubber application or media processing can contact our expert technical staff for consultation relating to design and property requirements.

As one of the leading natural rubber products manufacturers, Qualiform offers exceptional processing, development and testing capabilities. We offer a wide variety of effective services including rubber molding, rubber compression moldingrubber injection moldingrubber transfer molding, and rubber to metal bonding. Furthermore, Qualiform offers impeccable problem-solving capabilities for all aspects of rubber molding and rubber-to-metal bonding. As a result, we can offer effective custom solutions for any project or application.

With our 40+ years experience, customers can rely on Qualiform for the effective rubber parts manufacturing they need to make high-performance natural rubber products. Contact the Qualiform technical staff at (330) 336-6777 to learn more about how we can help you.

Qualiform Proprietary Blend

In addition to high-quality natural rubber, we offer a proprietary blend with reinforcing fibers. This blend implements durable reinforcing fibers into the natural rubber for increased resistance against impacts and abrasions as well as enhanced durometer, toughness and performance. Qualiform also offers the proprietary blend for all other available rubber materials:

  • Butyl Rubber
  • EPDM Rubber
  • Neoprene Rubber
  • Nitrile Rubber
  • Rigid & Flexible Rubber
  • Synthetic Rubber
  • Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
  • Viton Rubber
natural rubber products
Interested in Natural Rubber or Qualiform’s other rubber materials? Contact Qualiform today to receive expert material recommendations.