Thermoset or Rubber is an engineering material. These materials are amorphous polymers to which various chemical components are added, creating what the rubber scientist refers to as a compound. After heating and chemical reaction, these materials become rubber by definition. Not only are they elastic and rubbery but they also dissipate energy because of viscoelastic nature. Their strength is high, especially under conditions of shear and compression. Thermoset materials are three dimensional chemical networks, which imbibe solvents and swell but do not dissolve and they cannot be reprocessed by simple heating like thermoplastics. The following are the brief important characteristics of a few rubber materials:

EPDM/EP……..Ethylene Propylene Diene (Monomer): ASTM D1418, ISO 1629

This Rubber Polymer has excellent resistance to heat, ozone & sunlight; very good flexibility at low temperature; good resistance to alkalis, acids & oxygenated solvents (alcohols, ketones, esters, glycols, ethers etc.) Poor resistance to oil, gasoline & hydrogenated solvents (alkenes, amine etc.); cost is low. Service Temp. Range: -70°F (-57°C) to +300°F (+150°C)

NBR/Nitrile

This thermoset polymer has very good resistance to oil, and gasoline, petroleum based hydraulic fluids, hydrocarbon solvents, alkalis and acids. Cost is low compared to other rubber polymers. Inferior resistance to ozone, sunlight, oxygenated solvents (alcohols, ketones, glycols etc.) and natural ageing. The Service Temperature Range: -70°F (-57°C) to +250°F (+120°C)

FKM/Fluoroelastomers

This thermoset polymer has an outstanding resistance to high heat, oil, gasoline, hydraulic fluids & hydrocarbons solvents (aliphatic, aromatics, benzene, xylene, kerosene, paraffin etc.). Very good impermeability to gases and vapors, good resistance to weather, oxygen, ozone, sunlight and flame. Poor resistance to oxygenated solvents ( amines, ketones, esters, ethers etc.) and tear strengths. Cost is high compared to other rubber polymers. There are various other forms of FKM including FFKM the most expensive and very versatile rubber polymer in the industries for its performance. The Service Temperature Range: -40°F (-40°C) to +500°F (+260°C)

BUTYL (BIIR & CIIR)

This thermoset polymer has outstanding impermeability to gases and vapors; very good resistance to heat, oxygen, ozone, sunlight, high energy absorption; excellent resistance to alkalis, oxygenated solvents (alcohols, ketones, esters etc.), water and steam. This polymer has good tear strength. Poor resistance to oil, gasoline, hydrocarbon solvents, and high compression set. The cost is moderate. The Service Temp. Range: -75°F (-60°C) to +250°F (+120°C)

NR/ISOPRENE……Natural Rubber

This thermoset polymer has outstanding resilience, resistance to tear and abrasion, good tensile strength. But poor resistance to heat, ozone and sunlight. Very little resistance to oil, gasoline and hydrocarbon solvents ( aromatics, aliphatic, amines etc.). Cost is moderate compared to others. The Service Temp. Range: -65°F (-55°C) to +175°F (+80°C)

SILICONE/FLUOROSILICONE (VMQ/FVMQ)

This polymer has an outstanding resistance to high heat, excellent flexibility at low temperature, low compression set; very good electrical insulation; excellent resistance to weather, ozone, sunlight & oxidation. But poor resistance to abrasion, oil, gasoline, alkalis, acids and solvents. Cost is moderate. The Service Temperature Range: -150°F (-101°C) to +500°F (+260°C)

The list below is a broad version of thermoset polymers used in defined applications:

ACM, Polyacrylate FEP, Tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE / Teflon)
AEM, Ethylene Acrylic FEPM, Tetrafluoroethylene / propylene
AU, Polyurethane FFKM, Perfluoroelastomer
CR, Chloroprene FKM-A, Fluorocarbon A
CSM, Chlorosulfonate Polyethylene FKM-B, Fluorocarbon B
ECO, Ephichlorahydrin FKM-GFLT, Fluorocarbon GFLT
EPDM, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer FKM-FLT, Fluorocarbon GL1
FVMQ, Fluorosilicone HNBR, Hydrogenated Nitrile
VMQ, Silicone NBR, Nitrile Rubber
IIR, Butyl Rubber NR, Natural Rubber
IR, Synthetic Isoprene T, Polysulfide
SBR, Styrene Rubber

Shop Rubber/Thermoset

The following Rubber/Thermoset is available at East West Enterprises: