Nitrile Rubber Products

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

What is Nitrile Rubber?

Nitrile rubber, also known as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), is a synthetic rubber with excellent resistance to petroleum-based oils, mineral oils and vegetable oils. Nitrile rubber is more resistant than natural rubber to oils, acids and heat aging. Furthermore, Nitrile offers superior abrasion resistance and properties for metal adhesion. 

Nitrile is an incredibly versatile rubber material. However, it has poor weathering properties. As a result, it is not recommended for use in applications involving exposure to ozone, esters, ketones, aldehydes and chlorinated/nitro hydrocarbons.

Read below for advantages and properties of Nitrile rubber:

Advantages of Nitrile Rubber

  • Ideal for sealing applications
  • Good compression set
  • High abrasion resistance
  • High tensile strength
  • Heat resistant
  • Water Resistance
  • Low gas permeability

Properties of Nitrile Rubber

  • ASTM D-2000 Classification BF, BG, BK (Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications)
  • Chemical Definition: Acrylonitrile Butadiene
  • Abbreviations: NBR

Processing Nitrile Rubber Products

  • Transfer Molding
  • Injection Molding
  • Compression Molding

Physical & Mechanical Properties

  • Durometer: 20 – 95 Shore A
  • Tensile Strength: 200 – 3,500 PSI
  • Elongation (Range %): 350% – 650%
  • Abrasion Resistance: Good – Excellent
  • Adhesion to Metal: Excellent
  • Adhesion to Rigid Materials: Good – Excellent
  • Compression Set: Good – Excellent
  • Flex Cracking Resistance: Fair – Good
  • Impact Resistance: Fair – Good
  • Resilience & Rebound: Good
  • Tear Resistance: Good – Excellent
  • Vibration Dampening: Fair – Good

Chemical Resistance

  • Dilute Acids: Good
  • Concentrated Acids: Poor – Fair
  • Organic Acids (Dilute): Good
  • Organic Acids (Concentrated): Poor
  • Inorganic Acids: Fair – Good
  • Alcohols: Fair – Good
  • Aldehydes: Poor – Fair
  • Dilute Alkalies: Good
  • Concentrated Alkalies: Poor – Good
  • Amines: Poor
  • Animal & Vegetable Oils: Good – Excellent
  • Non-Petroleum Brake Fluids: Poor
  • Diester Oils: Fair – Good
  • Alkyl Phosphate Esters: Poor
  • Aryl Phosphate Esters: Poor – Fair
  • Ethers: Poor
  • Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Good – Excellent
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Fair – Good
  • Extended Fuel (Oxygenated): Fair – Good
  • Halogenated Solvents: Poor
  • Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Poor – Fair
  • Ketones: Poor
  • Lacquer Solvents: Fair
  • LP Gases & Fuel Oils: Excellent
  • Mineral Oils: Excellent
  • Oil Resistance: Good – Excellent
  • Aromatic Petroleum: Good
  • Non-Aromatic Petroleum: Excellent
  • Ammonia Refrigerant: Good
  • Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons: R-11, R-12, R-13
  • Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons with Oil: R-11, R-12
  • Silicone Oil: Good
  • Solvent Resistance: Good – Excellent

Thermal Properties

  • Low Temperature Range: -70ºF – 0ºF
  • Minimum for Continuous Use (Static): -40ºF
  • Brittle Point: -70°F – 0ºF
  • High Temperature Range: +210°F – +250ºF
  • Maximum for Continuous Use (Static): +250ºF

Environmental Performance

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

Applications of Nitrile Rubber Products

Automotive

  • Gaskets
  • Seals
  • O-rings
  • Diaphragms
  • Fuel systems
  • Hoses and tubing

Bowling

  • Components exposed to lane oil
  • Pin setters
  • Roller bumpers

Oil/Gas

  • Seals
  • Tubing
  • Rubber connectors rubber-to-metal bonded parts

Qualiform ISO Certified Nirtrile Rubber Manufacturer

Qualiform is an ISO-certified Nitrile rubber manufacturer with a variety of effective custom rubber molding services. We are capable of molding standard OEM replacement stars as well as custom finger lengths and configurations. Looking to develop a recycling star for your Nitrile application or media processing? Contact our technical staff for consultation on design and property requirements.

Qualiform offers industry-leading processing, development and testing capabilities. We offer precision rubber manufacturing services including rubber molding, rubber compression moldingrubber injection moldingrubber transfer molding, and rubber to metal bonding. Our experience in the industry has given us reliable problem-solving capabilities in all areas of rubber molding and rubber-to-metal bonding. Qualiform can create the custom solutions you need for your application.

Qualiform offers 40+ years of experience in custom rubber components manufacturing, so customers can depend on Qualiform experts to create the high-quality Nitrile parts they need. Contact the Qualiform technical staff at (330) 336-6777 to learn more about how we can help you.

Qualiform Proprietary Blend

In addition to our Nitrile materials, Qualiform offerss a proprietary blend with reinforcing fibers. We directly blend reinforcing fibers into the Nitrile rubber. As a result, the Nitrile has increased resistance to abrasions and impacts as well as improved durometer, toughness and performance. Qualiform also offers this blend for our other available materials:

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