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:
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
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
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
Calendar
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
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
Elastomer
A material that has the ability to recover its shape after being stretched or deformed
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
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
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
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
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
Latex
A milky sap derived from certain plants that is used to make rubber
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.)
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
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
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
Coruba is the no. 1 UK supplier of all things rubber! For more information about your specific rubber requirements, please call 01702 811 552 and we will be glad to help.