Guide

Selecting Rubber
Materials

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Selecting Rubber Materials
Every rubber compound offers a specific set of benefits. When you need
custom rubber products made for your applications, the tricky part can be
figuring out exactly which material is best for you.

To determine which material is right for your needs, you need to first
determine what qualities it must have to succeed in your application. To do
this, we’ve created a list of questions that you should ask about your part:

• What is the application or function of the part?

• Is there a cost target for a material that we should consider?
• Will the part be located inside or outside?
• What, if any, are the temperature requirements?
• Is there exposure to specific chemicals?
• Will the part be exposed to an abrasive environment?
• Are there any physical property requirements?
• Does the part need to absorb vibration?
• Is the part being used as a sound dampener or deadener?
• Does the part need to meet any regulatory requirements?

Once you have the answers to those questions, it’s time to review your
available material options to see which one of the following rubber
materials best fits the needs of your specific part.
EPDM
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is
an extremely versatile synthetic rubber. EPDM is
primarily used for outdoor applications due to its
excellent resistance to aging cause by weather
and sunlight. It’s also very stable in high and low
temperatures and can last for long periods of time
with proper use.
While EPDM is effective for many static and
dynamic applications, it is not recommended for
use in food applications or environments with
petroleum-based products.

Applications

HVAC Automotive Industrial

• Compressor Grommets • Weather stripping and seals • Water system O-rings and hoses
• Mandrel formed drain tubes • Wire and cable harnesses • Tubing, grommets, and belts
• Pressure switch tubing • Window spacers • Electrical insulations and stinger
• Panel gaskets and seals • Hydraulic brake systems covers

• Door, window and trunk seals

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Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber is a go-to material for applications
in extreme environments. While some rubber
compounds may tear or lose their effectiveness
in extreme temperatures, silicone operates
normally from -100°C to 250°C (-150°F to 480°F).
Silicone also offers better tensile strength, tear
strength, elongation, and compressions at extreme
temperatures than standard rubbers.

Applications

Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering

• Square, kink free tubing for furnace pressure switches • Wire and cable jacketing
• Sound and vibration dampening in automotive drive shaft applications • Electrical safety stinger covers
• Shaft sealing rings • Conductive profiled silicone seals
• Silicone O rings
• Window and door seals
• Sealing gaskets
• Oven door gaskets

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Neoprene Rubber
Neoprene rubber is an extremely versatile synthetic rubber. Also
known as polychloroprene, this material is a reasonably-priced
multipurpose elastomer that can be used in a wide variety
of consumer products due to its outstanding toughness and
various resistances to flame, oil, chemicals.

Applications

Wire and Cable Automotive Construction

• Cable jackets
• Jacketing in lead press cured
mining cables
• Jacketing in heavy-duty cables
• Conveyer belts
• Neoprene industrial hose
• Neoprene O rings
• Neoprene Diaphragms
• Grommets and vibration mounds
• Neoprene Hose Covers
• CVJ boots
• Power transmission belts
• Vibration mounts
• Shock absorber seals
• Breaking and steering system
components
• Neoprene window seals
• Custom window gaskets
• Highway and bridge seals
• Bridge bearing pads
• Neoprene washers
• Bridge stay-cable anchor
components
• Deviator pads
• Neoprene O rings
• Elevator astragals

Mass Transit
• Window seals with a locking
strip (window and door seal
extrusions)
• Door and sensitive door seals

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Viton
Viton® is a high-performance fluoroelastomer polymer. This
material has a strong reputation as an excellent material in
very hot and extremely corrosive environments thanks to
its excellent heat stability and resistance to aggressive fuels
and chemicals. Viton was also the first fluoroelastomer to
obtain worldwide ISO 9000 registration and can meet FDA
requirements for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Applications

Aerospace & Aircraft Automotive Food

• Radial lip seals used in pumps • Gaskets
• Manifold gaskets • Seals
• Cap-seals • O rings
• T-Seals
• O-rings used in line fittings,
connectors, valves, pumps, and
oil reservoirs Pharmaceutical
• Siphon hoses

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Natural Rubber
Natural rubber is a versatile material and ideal polymer for
dynamic or static engineering applications. This material
combines high tensile and tear strength, outstanding
fatigue resistance, and excellent adhesion to metals.
Natural rubber can also be compounded to add specific
properties, such as additional hardness, extra resilience,
and sound dampening qualities. However, natural rubber
is not recommended for any applications where it will be
exposed to the ozone, oil, or solvents.

Applications

Heavy Equipment
• Shock mounts
• Vibration isolators
• Gaskets
• Seals
• Rolls
• Hose and tubing

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Nitrile Rubber
Nitrile, also known as NBR or Buna-N, is a versatile,
general-purpose polymer, with good solvent,
oil, water, and hydraulic fluid resistance. These
resistances make nitrile rubber excellent for sealing
applications. Nitrile rubber can also be compounded
for temperatures up to 250°F (121°C), making it
a natural choice for industries where resistance to
heat aging is a must.

Applications

Automotive Bowling Oil and Gas

• Gaskets • Bowling pin setters • Seals
• Seals • Roller bumpers • Tubing
• O-rings • Anything that comes into direct • Molded shapes
• Carburetor and fuel pump contact with lane oil • Rubber-to-metal bonded
diaphragms components
• Fuel systems • Rubber connectors
• Hydraulic hoses
• Tubing

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Butyl Rubber
Butyl rubber is a copolymer that has exceptionally
low gas and moisture permeability, as well as
outstanding resistance to heat, aging, weather,
ozone, chemical attack, flexing, abrasion, and
tearing. In addition, butyl rubber is resistant to
phosphate ester based hydraulic fluids, and has
excellent electrical insulation performance. Butyl
is not recommended for use when in contact with
petroleum oils and fluids.

Applications

• Shock mounts • Used in sealants and adhesives

• Sealant for rubber roof repair • Butyl O Rings
• Tubeless tire liners • Pond Liners
• Inner tubes • Tank Liners
• Stoppers for glass bottles, medicine • Construction sealants, hoses, and
bottles, and pharmaceuticals mechanical goods

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Timprene
Timprene is a special custom compound that Timco Rubber
originally developed for the HVAC industry. The material is an
elastomeric compound that offers a high level of resistance to
flame, acidic environments, and ozone at elevated temperatures.
These qualities allow it to function in harsh environments with
high efficiency, such as condensing gas furnaces.

Applications

HVAC Furnace Manufacturing

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Synthetic Rubber
Thanks to SBR’s excellent abrasion resistance and
an ability to adhere to metals, SBR is a great option
for rubber gaskets, seals and other products. SBR
also excels in extreme temperatures due to good
heat resistance and heat-aging qualities. However, it
is not recommended to use SBR in applications that
involve ozone, strong acids, oils, greases, fats and most
hydrocarbons.

Applications

• SBR rubber pads (Mining)

• Synthetic Rubber Seals
• Rubber gaskets
• SBR Panel grommets (HVAC)
• Custom molded rubber components for plumbing applications

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Sponge Rubber
Sponge rubbers are extremely flexible and customizable
elastomeric materials that are great for use as seals and
cushioning for nearly any surface. These parts can be
formulated from a variety of materials, such as EPDM,
silicone, and neoprene. Each one offers different benefits,
they all can boast excellent sealing capabilities, shock
absorption, and compression and recovery characteristics.

Applications

HVAC Automotive
• Sound and vibration insolation • Cushioning
• Deadening seal for doors, • Sponge gaskets
cabinets, etc.
• Cushioning
• Sponge gaskets

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Foam Rubber
Foam rubber is a versatile material that can provide
cushioning, vibration dampening, and sound
dampening capabilities for applications. Due to it’s
excellent shape retention qualities, foam rubber can
conform to irregular surfaces and curves, making it
filler for variable gaps and larger voids.

Applications

HVAC Automotive Manufacturing

• Dust seals • Vehicle trim • Packaging foam
• Noise reducers • Filler for refrigerated transport
vehicles
• Cushioning

Construction
• Building insulation

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Rigid & Flexible PVC
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic material
that is strong, lightweight, and durable. PVC is a
cost-effective solution and can be either rigid or
flexible, which gives it a wide hardness range.
The material Is also compatible with several additives,
which allows it to be manufactured in a variety of
colors or even be made clear. Whether in rigid or
flexible form, PVC boasts resistances to grease, oil,
chemicals, flame, and bad weather conditions, as well
as excellent electrical insulation properties.

Applications

Construction (Rigid) Electrical Automotive

• Pipe and drain tubing
• Extrusion profiles for window
and door frames
• Clear OD/ID tubing for gas
furnaces
• Coated wire and cable • Protective strips
• Moldings, exterior side molding
• Seat coverings
• Interior door panels and pockets

Medical
• Surgical equipment
• Pharmaceuticals
• Drug delivery
• Medical packaging

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Thermoplastic
Elastomers (TPE)
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is a rubber material that
is processed like plastic. This process turns TPE into a
flexible material that can be repeatedly stretched to at
least twice their original length at room temperature.
Upon stress release, TPE returns to the approximate
length of its original shape. In addition to this capability,
TPE is a long-lasting material that is colorable and offers
excellent weather, ozone, and slip resistance.

Applications

HVAC Appliances Automotive

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ManninGlas®
ManninGlas is a low-cost alternative to silicone and
ceramic fiber gasketing materials. This material is made
from non-respirable, electrical-grade glass fibers held
in place with a binder system to satisfy low smoke and
odor requirements. ManninGlas can be die-cut into
intricate shapes, making it perfect for high-temperature
applications with limited space.

Applications

HVAC Appliances Automotive

Hearth Products Lighting Boilers

Steam Trace Lines

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FiberFrax
FiberFrax offer high-temperature stability at a lower
cost than silicone. FiberFrax is made with a blend of
different fibers, binders, and additives and is easy to
wrap, shape, or cut, which gives it a lot of flexibility
when being manufactured for different applications.
In general, FiberFrax has an operating temperature
between 400° F and 2450° F depending on the
needs of a product.

Applications

HVAC Appliances Aerospace

Ceramic and Glass Petro Chemical Automotive and Steel

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Not sure which rubber material you need for
your application?
There are plenty of rubber materials to choose from, so it can be tricky to
find the right option for your specific needs. Timco’s team of experts can
work with you to figure out which material best meets your requirements.

Contact us today to talk to one of our experts or request a quote if you

know exactly what you need for your custom rubber products.

www.timcorubber.com | (216) 267-6242