Rubber

EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer) is found in a wide range of applications and is excellent for outdoor use. It is well known for its excellent ozone, weathering and aging resistance. It also has excellent water and steam resistance, maintains its flexibility at low temperatures, features excellent resistance to alkalis, acids and oxygenated solvents and is very color stable. EPDM is not recommended for resistance to oil, gasoline and hydrocarbon solvents.

Nitrile (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene) has very good oil, gasoline and abrasion resistance. Resistance to alkalis and acids increases as the nitrile content of the compound increases. Nitrile must be specially compounded for resistance to ozone, sunlight and natural aging. It has poor resistance to oxygenated solvents. Nitrile is superior to neoprene in oil and solvent resistance, but is not recommended for exposure to severe weathering.

Neoprene (Polychloroprene) is generally considered an excellent all-purpose elastomer with a solid balance of properties and few limitations. The polymer has moderate resistance to oils and gasoline. It features good flame resistance, weathers well and has very good resistance to abrasion, flex cracking, alkalis and acids. However, neoprene provides poor resistance to aromatic and oxygenated solvents and has limited flexibility at low temperatures.

SBR (Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber) has excellent impact strength, good resilience, tensile strength, abrasion resistance and maintains its flexibility at lower temperatures. However, it is not recommended for resistance to oil, gasoline and hydrocarbon solvents. SBR materials are also not suitable for exposure to the outside elements, such as UV and ozone. Typical uses of SBR have been in tire treads, conveyor belt covers, mats and even shoe soles.

Fluoroelastomers provide premium performance and long-term reliability in very harsh and corrosive environments. Their exceptional resistance to heat, aging and a broad range of fuels, solvents and chemicals makes them ideal for many demanding aerospace, automotive and industrial applications. Fluoroelastomers also offer excellent resistance to weather, ozone, oxygen and sunlight and are inherently more flame retardant than hydrocarbon rubbers. Fluoroelastomers have poor resistance to ketones, esters, ethers, amines and aqueous bases (i.e. ammonia and sodium hydroxide).

Fortrex™, our proprietary elastomer, is a unique chemistry platform yielding flexible, lower weight materials.​ Fortrex™ materials are inherently colorless and stable against UV exposure and most chemicals.​ This highly tunable thermosetting platform – which processes like a thermoplastic – features very low compression sets while maintaining a high degree of elastic behavior. For more information, please click here: