Properties of Rubber Types | Q Plus
ACM (polyacrylate rubber)
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- Suitable for applications up to 150 °C (short-term up to 175 °C)
- Very resistant to ageing
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- Highly sensitive to hydrolysis
- Deformation under pressure and low-temperature flexibility depend strongly on the compound
Oil, hydrocarbons, and oil additives pose no problem, including sulphurised versions.
AEM (ethylene acrylate)
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Excellent resistance to heat ageing
Very resistant to weathering
Very resistant to aliphatic hydrocarbons
Performs well at low temperatures
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Poor resistance to acids
Poor resistance to coolants
AU (polyester urethane) and EU (polyether urethane)
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Good mechanical properties (tensile strength, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance)
Resistant to oxygen and ozone
Oil and grease resistant
Both types withstand high radiation doses
Good low-temperature flexibility down to –35 °C
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AU type is moisture-sensitive
AU type is prone to microbiological degradation
EU type is sensitive to heavy UV exposure
CR (chloroprene rubber)
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A true all-rounder
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Moderate resistance to heavy oils
Limited resistance to oxidation due to chlorine in the compound (heat, fire, ozone, chemicals)
Not suitable for extreme applications
CSM (chlorosulphonyl polyethylene)
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Very high chlorine content provides excellent oxidation resistance (weather, chemicals, dry heat, hot water)
Flame retardant
Very gas-tight
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Poor low-temperature properties
Poor resistance to deformation under pressure
ECO (epichlorohydrin rubber)
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Excellent resistance to weathering and ozone
Excellent oil resistance
Good mechanical properties
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Sensitive to acids
Not suitable for ketones, esters, alcohols, synthetic oils, water, and steam
Corrosive to metals
EPDM/EPR (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
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Very resistant to ozone, weathering, water, and steam
Good chemical resistance to phosphate-ester-based hydraulic fluids
Suitable for mild chemicals
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Not suitable for mineral oil products
FEP / PFA
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Good mechanical properties
Extremely chemical resistant
Excellent non-stick properties
Reasonable wear resistance
These chemically modified fluorocarbons resemble plastics more than rubber. Operating range: –100 °C to 200–250 °C (PFA). Often used to jacket other rubbers.
TFE/P (tetrafluoroethylene/propylene)
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Better electrical resistance than other rubbers
Resistant to strong acids and bases
Withstands heavy radiation exposure
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Poor low-temperature resistance
FFKM / FFPM (perfluoroelastomer)
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The most chemically resistant rubber on the market
Suitable for virtually all applications where other elastomers fail
Excellent gas-tightness in high-vacuum applications
Extremely high temperature resistance: up to 330 °C (dry heat up to 260 °C)
FKM / FPM (fluoroelastomer)
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Good resistance to heat and hydrocarbons
Good compression set resistance
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Poor resistance to esters, ethers, ketones, amines, and phosphate ester oils
There are several types (copolymer, terpolymer, tetrapolymer), with properties determined by fluorine content. One of the best-known brands: Viton is an FKM.
FVMQ (fluorosilicone rubber)
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Excellent resistance to ozone, oxygen, and ageing
Non-stick surface
Wide operating temperature range
Enhanced resistance to oils and fuels (compared to silicone rubbers)
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Poor mechanical strength
High gas permeability
IIR (butyl rubber)
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Very low gas permeability
Good resistance to ozone, weather, and oxygen
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Moderate elasticity
Not suitable for contact with oils
Usable at low temperatures down to –50 °C
IR (polyisoprene)
Synthetic equivalent of NR (natural rubber). Properties are similar, but NR performs better at low temperatures.
NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber)
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Good resistance to oils, fuels, and greases
Mechanical properties and wide usable temperature range make it the most commonly used rubber
The acrylonitrile content of the compound strongly influences resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons and low-temperature flexibility.
