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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.).

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.