Fluororubber (FKM)
Advantages: Fluororubber (FKM) is a special elastomer that is resistant to extreme heat, oil, gasoline, hydraulic oil and hydrocarbon solvents. It has good resistance to oxygen, ozone, sunlight, and good impermeability to gases and steam.
Disadvantages: Fluororubber is generally not resistant to oxygen-containing solvents and has poor tear resistance. It is also not resistant to low temperatures, generally only to around -25 degrees, and is expensive.
Fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ)
Advantages: Fluorosilicone rubber (FSI, FVMQ) is a special elastomer with similar environmental stability and excellent resistance to extreme temperatures as silicone, and has excellent resistance to fuels, oils, solvents and chemical media.
Disadvantages: Fluorosilicone rubber (FSI, FVMQ) can be one of the most expensive polymers. Compared with silicone resin, fluorosilicone resin is limited by average tensile strength and poor bending resistance. In some applications, fluorosilicone rubber is not suitable for brake fluids, hydrazine and ketones.
Silicone (VMQ)
Pros: Silicone (SI, VMQ) is a specialty elastomer known for its ability to accommodate a wide temperature range. Silicone exhibits excellent resistance to ozone, weathering, oxidation, compression set, and moderate chemical resistance. Its high biocompatibility makes silicone an ideal choice for the medical industry. Silicone exhibits good vibration damping properties at elevated temperatures and overall good dynamic performance.
Cons: Silicone (SI, VMQ) is generally limited by average tensile strength and poor resistance to fuels, solvents, abrasion, and flexure. It is generally highly permeable to gases and can be expensive.
Hydrogenated Nitrile (HNBR)
Pros: Nitrile (HNBR) is a specialty polymer with high physical properties. It is tough and wear-resistant. It exhibits excellent resistance to oils, solvents, and hydraulic fluids. HNBR has good ozone, oxidation, and chemical resistance.
Cons: Hydrogenated Nitrile (HNBR) is not recommended for applications involving highly polar fluids, aromatic hydrocarbons, or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Poor high temperature resistance and high price.
EPDM
Advantages: EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) elastomers are used to resist ozone, oxygen, and thermal degradation and are often recommended for outdoor applications. It exhibits good resistance to water, steam, alkalis, acids, and oxygenated solvents. EPDM has good low temperature flexibility and can be cured with sulfur and peroxides.
Disadvantages: EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is not recommended for applications requiring resistance to oils, gasoline, and hydrocarbons. EPDM has poor compression set and poor adhesion to fabrics and metals.
ECO
Advantages: ECO (ECO, CO) is a special elastomer that can be compared to NBR in terms of solvent resistance (excellent resistance to oils, fuels, and petroleum-based hydraulic fluids) and has good resistance to ozone, light, and oxidation. It has very low air permeability and good heat resistance.
Disadvantages: In general, ECO compounds are more expensive than NBR. Not suitable for steam, ketones, esters and chlorinated solvents.
Butyl Rubber (IIR)
Advantages: Butyl rubber is known for its airtightness and is often used for air sealing. It has good resistance to heat, oxygen, ozone and sunlight. In addition, it provides excellent resistance to alkalis, acids and oxygenated solvents. It has high energy absorption capacity and can be a good electrical insulator.
Disadvantages: Butyl is not recommended for applications that require resistance to oils, gasoline and hydrocarbon solvents. Butyl rubber does not process well.
Natural Rubber (NR)
Advantages: Natural rubber (polyisoprene, NR) has excellent abrasion resistance, tensile strength and elasticity. It has good adhesion to fabrics and metals and has good low temperature flexibility. Natural rubber is generally resistant to moderate chemicals, alcohols, ketones and aldehydes.
Disadvantages: Natural rubber (polyisoprene, NR) is not suitable for applications involving outdoor exposure (ozone, heat aging and oxygen resistance). Natural rubber has poor resistance to aggressive chemicals, petroleum derivatives, fats, and nonpolar solvents.
Chloroprene (CR)
Advantages: For general applications, chloroprene (polychloroprene rubber, CR) is known for its versatility. It exhibits very good resistance to ozone, oxygen, sunlight, alkalis, and acids. Chloroprene has good flame retardant properties. It offers good tensile strength, elasticity, and moderate resistance to oils and gasoline.
Disadvantages: Chloroprene (polychloroprene rubber, CR) offers moderate oil resistance, but is not recommended for use in harsh fuels and hot oil products. It has poor resistance to aromatic and oxygenated solvents. Chloroprene is also limited by low-temperature flexibility.
Nitrile (NBR)
Advantages: For products that require oil resistance, nitrile (butadiene acrylonitrile, BUNAN, NBR) is the polymer of choice. It has excellent resistance to oil, gasoline, petroleum-based hydraulic fluids, and hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, it offers good resistance to alkalis and acids. Nitrile rubber can accommodate a wide temperature range.
Disadvantages: Nitrile rubber (butadiene acrylonitrile, BUNAN, NBR) is not recommended for applications exposed to ozone, weathering, heat and sunlight. It has poor resistance to polar solvents such as esters, ketones, chlorinated solvents or nitrocarbons.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Advantages: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl) can be added with a wide variety of additives to meet a variety of specific end uses. It is versatile and cost-effective. In general, PVC is strong, elastic, non-conductive and moisture-resistant. It has good flame retardant properties and will self-extinguish when the flame is removed. PVC materials are available in a variety of colors.
Disadvantages: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl) is limited by poor low temperature performance. PVC is not recommended when subjected to high heat and mechanical stress because the elastomer becomes soft and deformed. Long-term exposure to sunlight will cause color fading.
Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
Advantages: Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is a synthetic general-purpose rubber with properties similar to natural rubber. It is a low-cost polymer that exhibits excellent impact and tensile strength. It has good rebound properties, abrasion resistance, and low-temperature flexibility.
Disadvantages: The limitations of SBR (SBR) are similar to those of natural rubber. It is limited by ozone, sunlight, petroleum, gasoline, and hydrocarbon solvents.
Polyurethane (AU, EU)
Advantages: Polyurethane (AU, EU) has excellent resistance to ozone, sunlight, moderate chemicals, fats, oils, and greases. It has excellent abrasion resistance, has high tensile strength, and good elongation. Polyurethane bonds well to metals and fabrics.
Disadvantages: Polyurethane (AU, EU) is often attacked by alkalis, acids, and oxygenated solvents. It generally exhibits poor compression set and is more expensive.
Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSM)
Advantages: CSM (Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene) is recognized as an excellent wear-resistant rubber. It resists ozone, sunlight, and oxidation very well. CSM exhibits good stability and flame retardancy to oils and corrosive chemicals.
Disadvantages: CSM (chlorosulfonated polyethylene) is more expensive than most general-purpose elastomers. CSM is not recommended for products that need to come into contact with fuels, aromatic solvents, and hot oils. CSM generally has poor resilience and compression set.
