designer

Rubber Characteristics

Rubber properties

Type Advantages Limitations
NBR
  • Cost efficient & prevalent
  • Abrasion & tear resistant
  • Water & oil resistant
  • Poor weather and ozone resistance
FPM (VITON)
  • Applicable for most grease/oil
  • Excellent under high temp.
  • Long usage life
  • Expensive
  • Moderate performance under low temp.
ACM
  • Mineral & gear oil
  • Aging & tear resistant
  • Applicable for high - speed rotation
  • Moderate under low temp.
  • Not for dry-running
  • Not usable in aqueous media
  • Better than NBR under hightemp.
  • More costly than NBR
SIL
  • Weathering/ozone resistant
  • Poor oil / fuel resistance
EPDM
  • Chemical resistant
  • Electrical isolation
  • Weathering/ozone resistant
  • Not usable in gasoline
PTFE
  • Excellent for dry-running
  • Chemical resistant
  • Low coefficient of friction
  • High thermal expansion
HNBR
  • Applicable for most grease / oil
  • Excellent under high temp.
  • Long usage life
  • Cold resistance better than NBR
  • Expensive
SBR
  • Excellent under high temp.
  • Long usage life
  • Water resistant
  • Not usable in outside environment, UV and ozone
  • Low flexibility
  • Poor adhesion

Common used rubbers

Type Name ASTM
NBR Nitrile rubber BF,BG,BK,CH
FPM (VITON/FKM) Fluorocarbon rubber HK
ACM Polyacrylate rubber DF,DH
SIL Silicone rubber FC,FE,GE
EPDM Ethylene propylene rubber BA,CA,DA
PTFE Polyterafluoro ethylene
PU Urethane rubber BG
AEM Ethylene/Acrylic rubber (VAMAC) EE,EF,EG
CR Chloroprene rubber BC,BE
HNBR Hydrogenated NBR rubber DH
SBR Styrene Butadiene Rubber AA

Rubber specifications

NBR FPM ACM SIL EPDM PU CR SBR
Tensile Strength ● ● ▼ ▼ △ ◎ ● △
Elongation ● ▼ ▼ ◎ ● ◎ ● △
Rebound Resistance ● △ △ △ ● ◎ ◎ △
Tear Resistance ● △ ▼ ▼ △ ◎ ● △
Abrasion-Resistance ◎ △ △ ▼ ● ◎ ● ●
Impact Strength Resistance ● △ ▼ ▼ ● ◎ ◎ ■
Gas Impermeability Resistance ● ● △ ▼ △ ● ● ■
Ozone Resistance ● ● △ ▼ △ ● ● ▼
Weathering Resistance △ ◎ ● ◎ ◎ ● ● ▼
Flame Resistance ▼ ◎ ● ◎ ◎ ● ● ●
Heat Resistance △ ◎ ● ◎ ◎ △ ● ●
Low Temperature Resistance △ ● ▼ ◎ ● ● △ ■
Oil and Fuel Resistance ● ◎ ● △ ▼ ● ■ ▼
Animal and Vegetable Oil Resistance ◎ ◎ ◎ ■ ● ● ● ▼
Alcohol Resistance ● ● ● ● ■ ■ ◎ ●
Alkaline Resistance ● ■ ▼ ▼ ● ▼ ◎ ●
Acid Resistance ● ● △ △ ● ▼ ● ●
Aliphatic-solvent Resistance
- Aliphatic ◎ ◎ ◎ ▼ ▼ ● ● ◎
- Aromatic ■ ◎ △ ▼ ▼ ▼ △ ■
Oxygenated-Solvent Resistance ▼ ▼ ▼ △ ◎ ▼ ▼ ▼
Water Resistance ● ● ▼ ● ◎ △ ● ●
◎ Excellent
● Good
■ Suitable
△ Limited
▼ Poor

Rubber Specification Reference Table:

  • Note for special type: ‘___-PL’ means oil seals are manufactured with TEFLON.
  • Note: Numbers are composed of six digits. For example 4NK701 Rubber Code (4), NBR (N), Black (K), 70 SHA (7), Serial Number (01)
MATERIAL COLOR HARDNESS
Code >Explanation Code Explanation Code Explanation
N NBR W White A 95
F FKM/VITON K Black 9 90
V VAMAC B Blue B 85
E EPDM R Red 8 80
C CR/NEOPRENE T Gray C 75
S SILICONE G Green 7 70
A ACM N Brown D 65
P PU O Orange 6 60
L FLS (LEATHER) P Purple E 55
H HNBR C Transparent 5 50
X XNBR Y Yellow F 45
R NR Note: Above colors are based on TCS standard, for other special colors, please take PANTONE for reference. 4 40

Material Temperature Range:


Shaft RPM, surface speed, and seal material application:

0 Top