Properly functioning rubber gaskets are an essential component of many industrial and mechanical applications. As your trusted industrial supplier, we offer a variety of gaskets and keep you well-versed in the types you need. We curated a free-to-use comprehensive buying guide to rubber gasket materials using our first hand knowledge and experience.
Synthetic Rubber Gasket
Also known as synthetic polyisoprene, synthetic rubber is a manufactured element considered to be the equivalent of natural rubber. Synthetic rubber is excellent for gaskets. It includes the positive qualities of natural rubber and eliminates the inconsistencies caused by variations in the base sap. As a result, synthetic rubber is slightly higher in cost than the natural alternative.
Synthetic rubber is unable to combat oxygen and the ozone. Therefore, it is not ideal for outdoor use and where the area is sunny. Despite this, synthetic rubber weathers slightly better than natural rubber because it is less viscous during the processing stage.
It is imperative that you remember to keep this material away from petroleum-based products. Similarly to its natural counterpart, it has a long chain of hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons prevent it from collaborating with petroleum-based products.
Nitrile Rubber Gasket
As a popular synthetic elastomer, nitrile is a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. This material is great for low and high-temperature environments for petroleum-based fluids. This type of rubber is great for a majority of mineral oils, some fuels, petroleum-based oils, and grease.
Nitrile rubber is an ideal material for machinery gaskets and for those involved with oil and gas equipment. Keeping your operations safe is easy with this type of rubber. It has high resistance to oil and gasoline and can be in contact with hydrocarbons.
Keeping nitrile away from glycol-based brake fluid, phosphate-ester fluids, and high aromatic content fuels is essential.
Neoprene Rubber Gasket
Neoprene is the most prominent synthetic rubber material. The material is also excellent for resisting weathering and corrosion, flames, and petroleum-based fluids. With tremendous insulating properties, neoprene is also the material used for wetsuits. Neoprene is also efficient in resisting moderate chemicals and acids, ozone, sunlight, oil, fats, greases, and solvents.
This material’s ability to perform well in differing temperatures makes it popular in the HVAC, automotive, and electrical industries. Neoprene can remain flexible at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 248 degrees Fahrenheit. As a gasket, it is great for sealing electrical units, keeping dust and moisture out, and resisting certain elements. The elements include flames and static electricity.
While being more costly than SBR and EPR rubber, neoprene comes in a variety of selections. Available choices include neoprene, neoprene (AB-245), neoprene (AB-255), neoprene (AB-260), neoprene (Garlock 7986), neoprene (cloth insert), neoprene (fabric-finish), and neoprene (nylon insert).
Styrene Butadiene Rubber Gasket
Otherwise called SBR or red rubber, Styrene-Butadiene Rubber derives from styrene and butadiene. SBR served as a substitute for natural rubber during WWI. This material is similar to synthetic and natural rubber because of its ability to maintain flexibility in cold weather.
Being soft and having a good compression recovery makes SBR suitable for work where flange surfaces may be uneven. Additional benefits of SBR include high impact strength, abrasion, and heat resistance, and it works well in various temperatures.
Despite the number of benefits, SBR has some disadvantages. SBR has poor resistance to ozone, sunlight, strong solvents, most hydrocarbons, mineral oil, and petroleum-based fluids. In comparison to natural rubber, it has inferior fatigue resistance and low-temperature properties.
If you’re considering using SBR, there are a variety of available selections. The choices for SBR include SBR, SBR (GRT 22), SBR C.I. (Cloth Inserted), SBR F.F. (Fabric Finish), SBR Red, SBR Red F.F. (Fabric Finish), and BR Runner Matting.
EPDM Rubber Gasket
As a versatile rubber gasket material, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer is a high-density synthetic rubber used throughout a variety of industries. In the automotive industry, people use EPDM to produce O-rings and other gaskets. EPDM gaskets are also great for low-pressure boilers and walk-in cooler door gaskets in the appliance industry.
EPDM is a popular sealing material for the automotive, marine, and construction industries. This material’s popularity derives from its excellent resistance to environmental factors. These factors include ozone, oxygen, heat, steam, weathering, and UV.
This material is capable of withstanding temperatures from -40 degree fahrenheit to 225 degrees fahrenheit. EPDM provides high electrical resistance and therefore is ideal for electrical applications.
EPDM also performs well alongside glycol-based fluids. Available selections of EPDM include: EPDM, EPDM (AB-576) NSF-61, EPDM (Garlock 98206), EPDM Peroxide-cured.
Silicone Rubber Gasket
Similar to EPDM, silicone is a versatile rubber gasket material. For gasket and sealing solutions that require resistance to high and low temperatures, silicone is the ideal pick. When used as a gasket, silicone rubber prevents and resists oxygen, weather, aging, UV rays, ozone, and extreme temperatures.
Another benefit of silicone is its FDA approved compounds. Allowing it to have use in FDA/food processes. There are a variety of silicone rubber materials available including: silicone black, silicone FDA (metectSil), silicone FDA red, silicone FDA white, silicone gray, and silicone red.
Viton™ Rubber Gasket
Viton™ rubber is a type of synthetic rubber made from fluoropolymer and carbon monomer. This rubber also has exceptional resistance to heat, chemicals, and oil. This material is popular in the aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, and oil & gas industries.
The rubber’s popularity derives from its high resistance to a range of chemicals and high temperatures. Viton™ also has great resistance to oxidation, synthetic hydraulic fluids, fuel, ozone, and UV exposure.
There are various reasons why it is a popular choice for gaskets. Some reasons are its resistance to certain things, chemical compatibility, and ability to withstand high-temperature conditions. If you’re looking to use this material for your gaskets, it is available in viton™ black, viton™ brown, viton™ FDA white, and viton™ with 1-PLY Nomex.
At Ameraseal we’re more than a provider; we’re your trusted partner in the industrial field. Need a custom solution or expert advice? Don’t hesitate. Reach out to our team today.