Common Materials Used For Gaskets & Seals:
- Neoprene
- Cork
- Natural Rubber
- Closed Cell Sponge
- Viton
- Urethane
- Fabric Reinforced
- Non-Asbestos
- Felt
- Nitrile (Buna-N)
- Open Cell Sponge
- SBR
- PTFE
- Silicone
- Belting
- Vegetable Fiber
- EPDM
- Cork & Rubber
- Butyl
- Foam
- White FDA
- Masticated Rubber
- PVC
- Beater-Add Sheet
Neoprene
(CR….Chloroprene Rubber) General Temperature Range -10/+220 F
Generally resistant to:
Moderate acids and chemicals, ozone, oils, fats, and many solvents.
Generally affected or attacked by:
Oxidizing acids, esters, and ketones. Aromatic chlorinated and nitro hydrocarbons.
This material can be found in everyday products which you may use. This synthetic rubber is rather flexible over a wide temperature range. Neoprene is used in diving suits because of its water resistant characteristic. This enables the material to be used in electrical insulation, automotive fan belts, orthopedic braces, protective sleeves, etc. This material can also be used as a noise insulation for various products such as drum practice pads. Weather stripping is typically made out of neoprene because of its fire resistant characteristics.
Neoprene is a good general purpose material for many gasket applications.
Natural Rubber
(NR….Polyisoprene) General Temperature Range -20/+185 F
Generally resistant to:
Water, air and average concentration acids. Bases, alcohols, salts, ketones, and has the best abrasion resistance.
Generally affected or attacked by:
Strong acids, ozone, bases, oils, solvents, and most hydrocarbons.
This material is typically collected in the form of latex from specific trees. Once the milky substance is refined, the rubber is ready for commercial use. Natural rubber has a large stretch ratio and resilience which can be useful when needed. This extremely waterproof material is used for many products you may use on a daily bases such as the shoes you wear.
Natural Rubber, also known as “GUM” rubber has good tensile strength and tear resistance.
Applications
Because of its elasticity and resilience, natural rubber is used in many different applications. We create natural rubber gaskets and natural rubber washers. Rubber makes a great seal because it is resistant to water and many other fluids. Natural rubber gaskets, for instance, do an excellent job of sealing up a small space between two components and preventing any leaks during operation. In combustion engines, natural rubber gaskets can help to maintain the compression that is essential to create power. Other applications include:
- Rain Gear
- Air Hoses
- Chemical Tubing
- Shock Absorbers
Quality Assurance
Our extensive knowledge in rubber manufacturing makes us an excellent choice if you are in need of a natural rubber gasket manufacturer or a natural rubber washer manufacturer. With capabilities like extrusion, molding and die cutting all in our state of the art facility, there’s very little that we can’t do in terms of rubber manufacturing. works very closely with all of our material suppliers so that we can control the quality of our products and always meet the needs of customers by having the right quantities on hand at all times.
Other Materials
As great as natural rubber may be, it is by no means the only product that we work with.
Closed Cell Sponge
Produce closed cell sponge products to your specifications. This material is used for gasket and sealing applications that require a soft, compressible material. These sponges are extremely impermeable to water, and good choices for shock absorption, weather sealing and thermal barriers. A wide range of closed cell sponge materials are available to best suite your applications. From 100% pure materials such as Neoprene or EPDM, to high quality blended materials such as Neoprene/EPDM/SBR mixes. Many materials meet UL-94 requirements and can range in temperature from -110 to +220 F. Many of these also meet FMVSS-302 requirements.
We work with a large variety of non-metallic materials, one of these materials is the soft, compressible material known as closed cell sponge. This type of rubber has both a wide range in terms of temperature environment, from extreme cold to intense heat. Another name for closed cell sponge is expanded rubber; it gets this name due to how the material is made up. The cells are similar to that of balloons, the cells in a closed cell sponge hold gas which does not allow for moisture to pass through the material.
If you are unsure if closed cell sponge is the right material for your application, do not hesitate to call one of our knowledgeable experts today. We would be happy to discuss our materials in detail, going over every advantage and disadvantage each material brings to your application.
Viton
(Fluorocarbon….Fluorinated Hydrocarbon) General Temperature Range +10/+450 F
Generally resistant to:
All aromatic, aliphatic, and halogenated hydrocarbons. Also many acids, animal and vegetable oils.
Generally affected or attacked by:
Ketones, esters, and nitro containing compounds.
This synthetic rubber is relatively popular for the production of O-rings and molded parts. It can also be used in linings of hose for automotive when biodiesel is used. This material should not be used in areas where high temperatures exist due to the decomposition and leaking of fluids from specific compounds.
Viton is known for its higher temperature resistance along with the ability to withstand many solvents, acids, fuels, and oils.
Felt
There are many different felt thicknesses and densities. Some available are: Felt is an ideal material for kiss-cutting where pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) are needed and ease of assembly is required.
- SAE Grade Wool Felt
- Pressed Wool Felt
- Needled Felt
- Polyester felt
This material is a condensed, pressing of fibers which is typically made of wool or synthetic fibers.seals, Although felt is typically thought of as a soft material, there are several types including some that are hard and tough enough to reach construction standards.
There is a wide variety of uses for this material, for example:
- Seals
- Washers
- Spacers
- Stripping
- Discs
- Anti- Vibration & Anti-Squeak Pads
- Bumpers
- Bushings
- Noise Reduction Linings
- Vibration Mounts
- Shock Dampeners
- Heat Barriers
- Wipers
- Oil and Grease Retainers
- Dust & Fuel Oil Filters
- Sound Deadening
- Padding
- Insulation
- Light Seals
- Lamp Bases
- Lubrication Wicking
- Dust Shields & Filters
***Various Colors Can Be Produced Per Request***
Nitrile
(NBR/Buna-N….Butadiene Acrylo-Nitrile) General Temperature Ranges 0/+240 F Nitrile is best known for its uses where oils are present. It can also be produced in white with FDA ingredients.
Generally Resistant To:
Most Hydrocarbons. Fats, oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, chemicals, and solvents.
Generally Affected or Attacked By:
Ketones, esters, aldehydes, nitro, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Ozone, polar solvents, and MEK. Also known as Buna-N, this synthetic rubber is used for various parts where ordinary rubbers cannot be used.
A Few Examples:
A few examples of these can be found in the automotive and aeronautical industry to make
- Fuel & Oil Handling Hoses
- Seals
- Molded Goods
- Footwear
- Gromets (Since Ordinary Rubbers Can Not Be Used.
- Adhesives
- Sealants
- Sponges
- Expanded Foams
- Floor Mats
SBR
(GRS/Buna-S….Styrene Butadiene Rubber) General Temperature Ranges 0/+195 F Nitrile is best known for its uses where oils are present. It can also be produced in white with FDA ingredients.
Generally Resistant To:
Water, air, anti-freeze, detergents, salt solutions, bases, alcohols, and some acids.
Generally Affected or Attacked By:
Oils, greases, solvents, hydrocarbons, strong acids, and ozone.
A Few Examples:
Also known as Buna-S, this synthetic rubber is used because of its abrasion resistance and good aging stability when taken care of.
This material is also popular because it offers:
- Durability
- Reduced Shrinkage
- Increased Flexibility
- being resistant to emulsification in damp conditions.
Therefore, it can typically be used to create dampeners when needed.
SBR is a very basic gasket material. It offers some cost savings as compared to other materials, however needs to be used in the proper applications.
PTFE
(AFMU….Tetrafluoro Ethylene Resin) General Temperature Ranges -120/+500 F
One non-metallic material that we have a lot of experience with is PTFE or Polytetrafluoroethylence. This material has an extensive temperature range and is resistant to virtually every known liquid chemical. Because of this resistance to chemicals and its ability to be used at high temperatures it makes this material ideal for a number of different applications from a friction reducer to pipework and more.
Generally Resistant To:
Most known fluid chemicals.
Generally Affected or Attacked By:
Molten, alkali metals, fluorine, and related compounds.
The material is waterproof due to its compounds such as fluorine which is high in electronegativity. PTFE is perhaps the material we handle that produces the least amount of friction against solids. Therefore it can be used in machines as a friction reducer to decrease energy-use and heat. Popular uses for PTFE are pipework or containers for corrosive and reactive chemicals; this is due to its non-reactive characteristics.
PTFE is known for its chemical resistance and higher operating temperatures.
Silicone Rubber
(SI….Siloxane) General Temperature Range -60/+460 F
Generally Resistant To:
Moderate or oxidizing chemicals. Ozone and concentrated sodium hydroxide.
Generally Affected or Attacked By:
Many solvents, oils, concentrated acids and sulfurs.
A Few Examples:
- Automotive Applications
- Food Storage Products
- Undergarmets
- Sportswear
- Footwear
- Electronics
- Medical Devices/Implants
Per customer request, several colors can be used for die cut parts or different extrusion shapes.
Silicone can be used for its excellence in outdoor applications and provides higher temperature resistance, has natural flexibility, and excellent sealing performance. Also available with FDA ingredients.
EPDM
(EPT….Ethylene Propylene) General Temperature Range -20/+300 F
We work with a number of different non-metallic materials in our line of work. One of our choice materials is our EPDM rubber material. This material is ideal for virtually any outdoor application because of its natural resistance to the elements. Whether it is found in hoses, weather sealing, or O-rings, EPDM rubber is the perfect choice for your outside application.
Generally Resistant To:
Vegetable and animal fats. Oils, ozone, and many strong and oxidizing chemicals. Ketones and alcohols.
Generally Affected or Attacked By:
Mineral oils, solvents, and aromatic hydrocarbons.
A Few Examples:
This material is well known for its resistance to weather. This material is used for various seals which can be found on
- Automotive Doors
- Hatches
- Windows
- Hoses
- Pond Liners
- O-Rings