Synthetic Rubber Products | Rubber Materials

Synthetic Rubber Products

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

What is Synthetic Rubber?

Synthetic Rubber or Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) is a low-cost, versatile rubber material. Although it is non-oil resistant, it offers similar properties to natural rubber; however, it has superior wear, abrasion and water resistance properties. Furthermore, the price of synthetic rubber is far lower than the price of natural rubber.

Synthetic rubber also offers exceptional performance in extreme temperatures. However, it is not recommended for use in applications with exposure to strong acids, oils, greases, ozone, fats and most hydrocarbons.

Producing synthetic rubber involves various petroleum-based monomers. These monomers can be mixed in a variety of proportions to be copolymerized. As a result, it can create products with a wide range of physical, mechanical, and chemical characteristics. Monomers can either be produced pure or with additional impurities and additives during the design process.

Read below for advantages and properties of Synthetic rubber:

Properties of Synthetic Rubber

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

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 Fluids: 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 Synthetic Rubber

• Drive Couplings
• Conveyor Belts
• Shoe Soles and Heels
• Adhesives
• Roll Coverings
• Car Tires
• Seals
• Gaskets
• Grommets
• SBR pads (Mining equipment)

Qualiform ISO Certified Synthetic Rubber Manufacturer

Qualiform is an ISO-certified synthetic rubber manufacturer with a catalog of high-precision custom rubber molding services. Our capabilities include molding standard OEM replacement stars as well as custom finger lengths and configurations. With Qualiform, you can develop a recycling star for your application or media processing! Contact our expert technical staff for consultation on design and property requirements.

Qualiform is an industry leader in rubber processing, development and testing. Our precision rubber manufacturing services include rubber molding, rubber compression molding, rubber injection molding, rubber transfer molding, and rubber to metal bonding. Our expertise also allows us to offer reliable problem-solving capabilities in all areas of rubber molding and rubber-to-metal bonding. As a result, we can create custom solutions for nearly any application.

Qualiform offers 40+ years of experience in custom rubber molding and manufacturing, so you can depend on Qualiform to create the high-quality rubber parts you 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 synthetic rubber materials, Qualiform offers a proprietary blend with reinforcing fibers. Qauliform directly blends reinforcing fibers into the synthetic rubber. As a result, it offers improved 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
• Nitrile Rubber
• Rigid & Flexible Rubber
• Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
• Viton Rubber