Material
Rubber
Rubber is a broad category of elastomeric materials used for sealing, vibration isolation, impact absorption, and flexible industrial components. Different natural and synthetic rubber compounds provide varying resistance to oils, chemicals, weathering, temperature, and mechanical stress, making material selection essential.
Material overview
Rubber materials are selected according to their elasticity, compression behavior, chemical compatibility, abrasion resistance, and operating temperature.
Common rubber families include:
- NBR: Frequently used for oil-resistant seals, gaskets, and industrial components.
- EPDM: Commonly selected for weather, ozone, water, and selected chemical exposure.
- FKM: Used for demanding sealing applications involving elevated temperatures and compatible fuels or chemicals.
- NR: Natural rubber offering high elasticity and favorable mechanical performance in selected applications.
- CR: Chloroprene rubber used where balanced weathering, mechanical, and chemical properties are required.
Manufacturing methods include compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, extrusion, calendaring, and die cutting.
Typical applications include O-rings, gaskets, vibration mounts, bushings, protective boots, and industrial sealing components.
Material selection should consider hardness, compression set, tensile strength, elongation, fluid compatibility, and service temperature.
Buyers should specify the elastomer family, compound requirements, Shore hardness, dimensions, tolerances, quantity, and relevant standards.
Critical sealing applications may require compression-set testing, hardness verification, dimensional inspection, and compound traceability.
Metraxio supports custom rubber component RFQs for molded, extruded, and precision-cut elastomer products.
Buyer questions
Is there a rubber molding capability page?
No. Rubber is a material. Name the forming route you need — compression, transfer, injection or extrusion — in the manufacturing project. Do not assume a composites compression-molding page is a rubber offer.
How do I specify the compound?
Polymer family such as NBR, EPDM, FKM or silicone, hardness if you know it, color, medium, temperature and the drawing. A trade name is useful when the compound is fixed.
What files should I send?
A drawing with the critical dimensions and the compound. A STEP file helps for a molded shape. Flash, parting line and a hardness tolerance should be stated when they matter.
Can I start a project if no rubber facility is listed?
Yes. The project is the request. Sourcing is how a manufacturer is identified when the public profiles do not already show a fit.