Rubber Material Guide
Rubber Materials for Custom Molded Parts, Seals and Industrial Components
Compare common elastomers and sealing materials including EPDM, NBR, Silicone, CR, Natural Rubber, SBR, CSM, HNBR, ECO, ACM, AEM, FKM, FFKM, FVMQ, IIR, sponge rubber, FDA approved elastomers, PU, and PTFE.
Quick Selection
How to Choose the Right Rubber Material
The best rubber material depends on oil exposure, weather resistance, temperature range, compression set, chemical contact, abrasion, hardness, and cost target.
Weather Resistant
EPDM Rubber
EPDM is widely used for outdoor seals, HVAC gaskets, door seals, sponge profiles, and weather-resistant molded parts.
| Typical Temperature Range | -40°C to 120°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Outdoor seals, HVAC parts, water sealing, door gaskets, weather strips |
| Strengths | Excellent weather, ozone, UV, steam, and water resistance |
| Limitations | Poor resistance to petroleum oils and fuels |
Oil Resistant
NBR Rubber
NBR, also called nitrile rubber, is a common choice for oil seals, gaskets, O-rings, and industrial rubber parts exposed to petroleum-based oils.
| Typical Temperature Range | -30°C to 100°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Oil seals, O-rings, gaskets, fuel-resistant parts, machinery seals |
| Strengths | Good oil, fuel, abrasion, and tear resistance |
| Limitations | Limited ozone, UV, and weather resistance |
High and Low Temperature
Silicone Rubber (VMQ)
Silicone rubber is suitable for high-temperature seals, food-grade components, electrical insulation, and flexible rubber products requiring stable performance across a wide temperature range.
| Typical Temperature Range | -60°C to 200°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | High-temperature seals, food-grade parts, electrical insulation, flexible gaskets |
| Strengths | Excellent temperature resistance, flexibility, aging resistance, and clean appearance |
| Limitations | Lower tear and abrasion resistance than many industrial rubbers |
Balanced Industrial Rubber
Neoprene / CR Rubber
Neoprene rubber offers balanced weather, oil, flame, and mechanical resistance.
| Typical Temperature Range | -35°C to 110°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Industrial gaskets, pads, covers, vibration parts, moderate oil exposure |
| Strengths | Balanced weather, oil, flame, and mechanical resistance |
| Limitations | Not as strong as EPDM for weathering or as strong as NBR for oil resistance |
Elastic and Strong
Natural Rubber
Natural rubber is known for high elasticity, tensile strength, and tear resistance.
| Typical Temperature Range | -50°C to 80°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Rubber wheels, rollers, vibration pads, impact parts, wear-resistant components |
| Strengths | Excellent elasticity, tensile strength, tear resistance, and dynamic performance |
| Limitations | Poor resistance to oil, ozone, UV, and long-term outdoor exposure |
Cost Effective
SBR Rubber
SBR is a cost-effective general-purpose rubber used for pads, gaskets, wheels, and industrial components.
| Typical Temperature Range | -40°C to 90°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | General pads, gaskets, wheels, flooring parts, cost-sensitive components |
| Strengths | Good abrasion resistance and economical pricing |
| Limitations | Poor oil, ozone, and weather resistance |
Weather and Chemical Resistant
Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSM)
CSM offers strong resistance to ozone, weathering, acids, alkalis, and some chemicals, making it suitable for outdoor and industrial environments.
| Typical Temperature Range | -30°C to 120°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Outdoor covers, chemical-resistant seals, industrial gaskets, cable jackets |
| Strengths | Good weather, ozone, chemical, and flame resistance |
| Limitations | Higher cost than general-purpose rubbers |
Upgraded Oil Resistance
Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR)
HNBR provides better heat, oil, and mechanical performance than standard NBR.
| Typical Temperature Range | -30°C to 150°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Automotive seals, oilfield components, high-performance gaskets, dynamic seals |
| Strengths | Good oil resistance, heat resistance, strength, and abrasion resistance |
| Limitations | Higher cost than standard NBR |
Fuel and Low Temperature
Epichlorohydrin Rubber (ECO)
ECO offers good resistance to fuel, oil, ozone, and low-temperature conditions, making it useful for automotive and fuel system applications.
| Typical Temperature Range | -40°C to 125°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Fuel system parts, automotive seals, diaphragms, hoses, and low-permeability components |
| Strengths | Good fuel resistance, oil resistance, ozone resistance, and low-temperature flexibility |
| Limitations | Limited availability and higher cost than common rubbers |
Automotive Oil Resistant
Acrylate Rubber (ACM)
ACM is commonly used for automotive applications where hot oil resistance and good aging performance are required.
| Typical Temperature Range | -20°C to 150°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Transmission seals, oil-resistant automotive gaskets, engine-related rubber parts |
| Strengths | Good hot oil resistance, heat aging resistance, and oxidation resistance |
| Limitations | Limited low-temperature flexibility and water resistance |
Heat and Oil Resistant
Ethylene Acrylic Elastomer (AEM)
AEM is used for automotive and industrial parts requiring heat resistance, oil resistance, and better flexibility than ACM in some applications.
| Typical Temperature Range | -35°C to 160°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Automotive hoses, seals, gaskets, turbocharger and engine compartment parts |
| Strengths | Good heat, oil, ozone, and weather resistance |
| Limitations | Not ideal for fuel or highly aggressive chemical exposure |
Chemical and Heat Resistant
Fluorocarbon Rubber (FKM / Viton)
FKM is selected for demanding environments involving high temperature, fuels, oils, chemicals, and aggressive media.
| Typical Temperature Range | -20°C to 200°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Fuel seals, chemical-resistant gaskets, high-temperature O-rings, pump and valve seals |
| Strengths | Excellent resistance to heat, oils, fuels, chemicals, and aging |
| Limitations | Higher material cost and limited low-temperature flexibility in some grades |
Extreme Chemical Resistance
Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM)
FFKM is a high-performance perfluoroelastomer family used for sealing applications where broad chemical resistance and high-temperature capability are required. Performance varies significantly by compound and grade.
| Typical Temperature Range | Grade-dependent; confirm against the selected compound data and actual service conditions |
|---|---|
| Best For | Demanding chemical processing, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and high-temperature sealing applications when a validated FFKM grade is specified |
| Strengths | Very broad chemical resistance and strong high-temperature sealing capability in properly selected grades |
| Limitations | High material cost; low-temperature flexibility, rapid gas decompression resistance, steam or amine compatibility, plasma performance, and purity are grade-dependent |
Fuel and Temperature Resistant
Fluorosilicone Rubber (FVMQ)
FVMQ combines the temperature flexibility of silicone rubber with improved resistance to fuels, oils, and many solvents.
| Typical Temperature Range | Grade-dependent; confirm against the selected compound data and actual service conditions |
|---|---|
| Best For | Fuel-system seals, aerospace and automotive seals, diaphragms, O-rings, and components exposed to fuels or oils across changing temperatures |
| Strengths | Good low-temperature flexibility, heat resistance, weather resistance, and improved fuel and oil resistance compared with standard VMQ |
| Limitations | Lower tear and abrasion resistance than many industrial rubbers; chemical compatibility and mechanical requirements must be validated for the selected compound |
Low Gas Permeability
Butyl Rubber (IIR)
Butyl rubber is known for very low gas permeability, good weather resistance, and strong resistance to many acids and alkalis.
| Typical Temperature Range | -40°C to 120°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Air sealing, diaphragms, tank linings, chemical-resistant parts, vibration damping |
| Strengths | Excellent air retention, weather resistance, and chemical resistance |
| Limitations | Poor resistance to petroleum oils and fuels |
Soft Sealing
Sponge Rubber
Sponge rubber is used for compression sealing, cushioning, vibration reduction, dust protection, and weather sealing.
| Common Materials | EPDM sponge, silicone sponge, neoprene sponge, NBR sponge |
|---|---|
| Best For | Door seals, HVAC seals, enclosure gaskets, cushioning strips, weather seals |
| Strengths | Soft compression, sealing recovery, cushioning, and lightweight structure |
| Limitations | Performance depends on density, cell structure, and material type |
Food Contact Options
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approved Elastomers
FDA approved elastomers are selected for food contact, clean processing, packaging, and other applications requiring compliant material options.
| Common Material Options | FDA silicone, FDA EPDM, FDA NBR, and other compliant compounds upon request |
|---|---|
| Best For | Food processing seals, beverage equipment gaskets, clean application rubber parts |
| Strengths | Suitable for specified food-contact applications when proper compound is selected |
| Limitations | Requires confirmation of exact regulation, application, medium, and documentation needs |
Abrasion Resistant
Polyurethane Rubber
Polyurethane rubber is used when high abrasion resistance, load-bearing performance, and durability are required.
| Typical Temperature Range | -30°C to 80°C |
|---|---|
| Best For | Wheels, rollers, bushings, pads, high-wear industrial parts |
| Strengths | Excellent abrasion resistance, load capacity, and mechanical durability |
| Limitations | Not ideal for high-temperature or some chemical environments |
Non-Elastomer Sealing Material
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
PTFE is a fluoropolymer rather than a rubber. It is used in sealing and wear components where broad chemical resistance, low friction, or low surface adhesion is important, with grade and seal design selected for the application.
| Typical Temperature Range | Grade-, filler-, and design-dependent; confirm for the actual pressure, load, media, motion, and service conditions |
|---|---|
| Best For | Backup rings, valve seats, gaskets, low-friction seals, guide rings, and chemically resistant sealing components |
| Strengths | Very broad chemical resistance, low friction, low surface adhesion, and good thermal and electrical stability |
| Limitations | Not an elastomer; limited elastic recovery and susceptible to creep or cold flow under load. Modified or filled grades and seal energization may be required |
Custom Rubber Material Support
Not sure which rubber material fits your project?
Send your drawing, sample photo, working environment, and quantity. Julong Rubber will help review your material options and manufacturing feasibility.
