Rubber Properties
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Typical Properties of Common Rubber Compounds

Physical Properties: What you can't see can definitely hurt you...

The following table gives general information regarding common rubber genres and is intended to aid in material selection and design of rubber parts and products.  Rubber compounding is a very broad and technical field, as basic elastomers are typically mixed with various chemicals and ingredients (and even with each other) to obtain desired physical properties and control costs.  (Yes, like everyone else, rubber manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to cut their costs, including cheapening their products.) 

Most commercial rubber products are made to proprietary formulas held in confidence by the companies producing them. There are, therefore, literally infinite possible formulations within each genre of rubber listed below...and (consumer beware) THEY ARE NOT ALL EQUAL!  A wide range of variations on physical properties like tensile strength, elongation percentage, and abrasion resistance can be found amongst different commercial rubber products made of the same basic elastomer -- and these are all factors that usually greatly affect the quality and durability of rubber seals, cushions, and other rubber products.  Other factors like chemical resistance and temperature range also vary, but normally to a lesser degree, which makes the following information useful for the purpose of pointing in the right general direction as far as a rubber compound is concerned. 

Dealers of rubber products will generally be happy to accommodate requests as generic as 'Neoprene', 'Silicone', or any other class of rubber, but that doesn't necessarily serve the consumer's interest.  At least some of the features listed above and/or others are usually directly relative to the overall performance and cost of a rubber product, especially regarding the longevity of its elastomeric properties.  In general, cheaper grades of rubber carry less resistance to elements and stresses that breakdown the molecular structure of rubber, making it stiff and brittle rather than rubbery.  Physical testing can determine how well a rubber seal or gasket, for instance, works in a given application, but only laboratory tests can reveal the underlying qualities that bear upon how long it will work. 

No reputable rubber compounder would mix, mold, extrude, or calender rubber without testing its physical properties, and consumers should know that this information bears directly on the true value of the materials they offer.  For various, mostly benign reasons, physical properties are often only available on request, but they should be readily available from any reputable dealer of rubber products. 

In many cases it is well worth a few pennies more to get a rubber gasket or seal that is more likely to perform better for longer, but it is always worth while to know what your buying.  If you wouldn't buy a tire without knowing its mileage rating, don't buy rubber products without comparing physical properties.

Typical Properties of Common Elastomers (Rubber Compounds)

Standard Gasket and Rubber Products carries a wide variety of rubber products for an even broader array of applications.  Rubber hardnesses commonly range from 30 to 90 durometer (Shore A) and are available in many standard, semi-standard, and custom compounds to cover virtually any requirement. SG carries a large inventory containing some styles of most of the classes of elastomers listed above.

Related Pages

• Chemical Resistance of Common Elastomers

Resources, Links, Technical Information

• Silastic Fluorosilicone Rubber - Compounds & Bases - Oil, Fuel, and Chemical Resistant Rubber - Dow Corning

• Silastic High Consistency Silicone Rubber - Compounds & Bases - Dow Corning

• Rubber Fabrication - Rubber Product Types - Technical Articles - Dow Corning

Footnotes

1. From the "Sheet Rubber Handbook - Gasket and Packing Materials" publication #IP-40 of the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
2. ASTM D 1418-79
3. 1979 Yearbook of the Los Angeles Rubber Group, Inc.
4. "Viton" and "Kalrez" are registered trademarks of E.I. Dupont, Inc.
5. Boldface indicates standard material.

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