Glossary of Terms

By understanding the terms that are commonly used in the Rubber Industry you will be better placed to select the most suitable rubber product for your specific needs and preferences.

Take a look at our list:

A

Abrasion Resistance

This is the ability of a rubber compound to withstand surface loss caused by friction with another material

Absorption

The process of one substance permeating another substance (liquid, gas or vapour) into its interior

Acid Resistance

The ability of a rubber compound to withstand the effects of acids

Adhesion

The tendency of a rubber product to cling or bond to another surface

Aging 

A physical or chemical property adjustment of a material due to prolonged exposure to a deteriorating environment

Anti-fatigue Mats

A type of rubber matting used to reduce fatigue cause by prolonged periods of standing

Antioxidant

A type of material added to a formula that can slow down its deterioration process

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International is a global standards organisation that develops and publishes technical standards for a wide variety of materials, products, systems and services

B

Batch

The quantity of a product that is produced at one time

Bond

The chemical or mechanical force that attaches an elastomer to another object

Brittleness

The tendency of a rubber compound to crack upon physical deformation

Buna N

A general term for the synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene, also known as nitrile or NBR

Buna S

A copolymer of a mixture of butadiene and styrene also referred to as styrene butadiene or SBR

Butyl

A type of synthetic rubber made by copolymerizing iso-butylene and isoprene

C

Calender

A mechanical device that is used to manufacture rubber sheet with the use of steel rollers

Coefficient of Friction 

This shows the relationship between the force of friction between two objects and the normal force between the objects

Compression Moulding 

A process wherein an uncured rubber is placed into a mould cavity to form a desired shape

Copolymer

An elastomer composed of two different monomers that is chemically combined

D

Density

The degree of compactness of a rubber compound

Dielectric

A material that conducts no current even when voltage runs through it

Durometer

A device that is used to measure the hardness of a material

E

Elastomer

A material that has the ability to recover its shape after being stretched or deformed

Edge trims

A highly-flexible material used to cover raw edges

Elongation

The increase in length of a material expressed as a percentage of its original length when it breaks

EPDM

A Terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and diene

Extrusion

A process wherein uncured rubber is pushed through a rubber extrusion die under pressure

F

Fender

A cushion like object that is usually made of rubber used to prevent damage to boats and vessels

Flame Resistance

A material’s resistance to fire

Foam Rubber

A light and spongy material made of rubber that is produced by beating air into latex, then curing it

G

Gasket

A sealing material that is used to fill the space between two surfaces

Gas Permeability 

The ability of a substance to resist penetration of gas or vapour under pressure

H

Hardness

The resistance of rubber to indentation

Heat Resistance

The ability of a rubber compound to be exposed to high temperature while retaining most of its original properties

Hevea Brasiliensis

A species of tree that is native to the Amazon rainforest - commonly referred to as the rubber tree

Hypalon

The trade name for chlorosulphonated polyethylene; a synthetic rubber made of chlorinated and sulfonated polyethylene

I

Impact Resistance

The resistance of a rubber compound to fracture or damage under a shock force

Injection Moulding

A process where preheated rubber is injected under pressure into a mould cavity

L

Latex

A milky sap derived from certain plants that is used to make rubber

M

Memory

The ability of an elastomer to go back to its original shape after deformation

Monomer

A molecule that can be combined to form a polymer

Mould Cavity

A hollow shape of a mould where uncured rubber is shaped into its final form

N

Natural Rubber

An elastic material obtained from the milky sap (latex) of various plants

Neoprene

A type of synthetic rubber that is made from the polymerization of chloroprene

Nitrile

An oil-resistant synthetic rubber made from a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene

O

Oil Resistant

The ability of a rubber compound to resist the deteriorating effects of various oils

O-Ring

A mechanical gasket that is used to keep liquid or gas in or out of a defined space

Oxidation

The rubber’s reaction to oxygen

Ozone Resistance

The ability of a rubber compound to withstand the deteriorating effects of the ozone - without cracking or breaking

P

Permeability

The quality of a material that lets fluid or gas travel through

Polymer

A chain of molecular materials formed by the chemical combination of similarly structured molecular units

Polymerisation

The process of linking two or more molecules to form a new molecule

R

Resilience

The ability of rubber to return to its original shape after being deformed

Rubber

An elastic material that can be made from latex or synthetically

S

Seal 

A device used to prevent the leaking of liquid or gas

Silicone Rubber

An elastomer composed of silicone, together with hydrogen, carbon and oxygen

Switchboard Matting

A non-conductive rubber matting that is used to protect workers from deadly shocks in and around high-voltage areas

Synthetic Rubber

This is an artificial elastomer (i.e. nitrile, EPDM, silicone, etc.)

T

Tear Resistance

A rubber compound’s resistance to nicks and cuts when tension is applied

Terpolymer

A polymer that is derived from the combination of three different monomers

Tensile Strength

Measurement of the force required to fracture or break a particular material

V

Vibration Dampening 

The ability of a rubber compound to absorb vibration or shock

Vulcanisation

The irreversible process in which an elastomer goes through a change in its chemical structure. This improves the physical properties of rubber, especially its elasticity

W

Weather Resistance

The ability of a rubber compound to withstand weathering factors (i.e. ozone, oxygen, erosion, UV radiation, etc.)

Weathering

Surface deterioration of a rubber compound after outdoor exposure

 

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