General Properties of Elastomers

The chart below provides general information for various common elastomeric compounds and very general features of the most common elastomers. Rubber compounding is a broad field. Basic elastomers are mixed with a variety of chemicals and ingredients to obtain desired physical properties. Many basic polymers are available that can yield compounds with unique physical properties.
Common
Name(s)		 Designation2 Composition2 General
Properties1		 General Chemical Resistance3
Resistant to: Attacked by:
Neoprene CR Chloroprene Good weathering resistance

Flame retarding

Moderate resistance to petroleum-based fluids		 Moderate chemicals and acids, ozone, oils, fats, greases, many oils, and solvents Strong oxidizing acids, esters, ketones, chlorinated, aromatic, and nitro hydrocarbon
EPDM EPDM, EPM Ethylene- propylene-diene; Ethylene-propylene Excellent ozone, chemical, and aging resistance

Poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids		 Animal and vegetable oils, ozone, strong and oxidizing chemicals Mineral oils and solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons
Buna-N NBR Nitrile-butadiene Excellent resistance to petroleum-based fluids

Good physical properties		 Many hydrocarbons, fats, oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, chemicals Ozone (except PVC blends), ketones, esters, aldehydes, chlorinated and nitro hydrocarbons
Silicone Q, Si Polysiloxane Excellent high and low temperature properties

Fair physical properties		 Moderate or oxidizing chemicals, ozone, concentrated sodium hydroxide Many solvents, oils, concentrated acids, dilute sodium hydroxide
SBR SBR Styrene-butadiene Good physical properties and

Abrasion resistance to petroleum-based fluids		 Most moderate chemicals, wet or dry, organic acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes Ozone, strong acids, fats, oils, greases, most hydrocarbons
Butyl IIR Isobutene-isoprene Very good weathering resistance

Excellent dielectric properties

Low permeability to air

Good physical properties

Poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids		 Animal and vegetable fats, oils, greases, ozone, strong and oxidizing chemicals Petroleum, solvents, coal tar solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons
Natural, gum rubber NR Isoprene, natural Excellent physical properties including abrasion and low temperature resistance

Poor resistance to petroleum- based fluids		 Most moderate chemicals, wet or dry, organic acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes Ozone, strong acids, fats, oils, greases, most hydrocarbons
Urethane AU, EU Polyethylene-apdate, Poly oxy-1,4,butylene
ether		 Good aging and excellent abrasion, tear, and solvent resistance

Poor high temperature properties		 Ozone, hydrocarbons, moderate chemicals, fats, oils, greases Concentrated acids, ketones, esters, chlorinated and nitro- hydrocarbons
Viton4,
Fluoro-elastomer		 FPM Hexaflouroprop- ylenevinylidene fluoride Excellent oil and air resistance both at low and high temperatures

Very good chemical resistance		 All aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, acids, animal and vegetable oils Ketones, low molecular weight esters and nitro- containing compounds
ECH, Hydrin, Herchlor ECO Ethylene-oxide

chloromethyl-oxirane		 Good low temperature properties

Excellent oil and ozone resistance

Fair flame resistance

Low permeability to gases		 Similar to nitrile with ozone resistance Ketones, esters, aldehydes, chlorinated and nitro-hydrocarbons

Footnotes

  1. From the "Sheet Rubber Handbook - Gasket and Packing Materials" publication #IP-40 of the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
  2. ASTM C 1418-79
  3. 1979 Yearbook of the Los Angeles Rubber Group, Inc.
  4. "Viton" is a registered trademark of E. I. Dupont, Inc.