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OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE FREQUENTLY FURNISHED
ELASTOMERS
NATURAL RUBBER – This form of rubber is produced from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree
of the Far East.
Advantages: Natural rubber has good tensile strength and tear resistance. It also
offers low permanent set and good low temperature characteristics.
Disadvantages: Natural rubber has poor resistance to chemicals and petroleum products.
It is not recommended for outdoor applications, as it has poor sunlight, ozone and heat
aging characteristics.
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SBR – The most economically priced polymer on today’s market.
Advantages: Provides good abrasion, wear and tensile qualities.
Disadvantages: SBR offers little resistance to oils and chemicals, and is not
recommended where resistance to ozone, sunlight and heat are required.
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NEOPRENE – This is one of the most popular elastomers because it provides the best
all-purpose balance of properties.
Advantages: Neoprene has good resistance to ozone, sunlight and many petroleum
products. It will not support combustion. It has good tensile strength, and resilience
characteristics are more of the features offered by neoprene.
Disadvantages: Neoprene is generally attacked by strong oxidizing acids, esters,
ketones, chlorinated aromatic and nitro hydrocarbons.
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EPDM – This polymer has outstanding properties at economical prices.
Advantages: EPDM has excellent resistance to ozone and severe weather conditions. It
also has excellent chemical resistance.
Disadvantages: EPDM is not recommended for food applications or applications involving
petroleum derivatives.
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BUTYL – This elastomer is best known for its air retention qualities; as in tires
and inner tubes.
Advantages: Butyl provides outstanding resistance to ozone, sunlight, weathering and
many chemicals.
Disadvantages: Butyl is not recommended for petroleum solvent, coal tar, and aromatic
hydrocarbons.
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BUNA-N - This is a general purpose oil resistant polymer used widely in the automotive
and aerospace industry.
Advantages: Buna-N has excellent resistance to petroleum oils, mineral oils, vegetable
oils and many acids.
Disadvantages: Because of its high cost. Buna-N is not recommended for applications
requiring moderate oil resistance.
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VITON – This is an excellent choice where high operating temperatures are
concerned.
Advantages: Resistance to solvents, acids, fuels, oils and hydraulic fluids in addition
to outstanding high temperature characteristics.
Disadvantages: Viton is not recommended for ketones, low molecular weight esters and
nitro containing compounds.
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