Fluorine rubber (FKM)

Advantages: Fluoroelastomer (FKM) is a special type of elastomer that can resist extreme heat, oil, gasoline, hydraulic oil, and hydrocarbon solvents. Has good resistance to oxygen, ozone, and sunlight, and has good impermeability to gases and vapors.

Disadvantages: Fluorine rubber generally does not have resistance to oxygen-containing solvents, and its tear resistance performance is relatively poor. Low temperature resistance is also not good, usually only around -25 degrees Celsius, which is expensive.

Fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ)

Advantages: Fluorosilicone rubber (FSI, FVMQ) is a special type of elastomer with similar environmental stability and excellent resistance to extreme temperatures as silicone, as well as excellent resistance to fuel, oil, solvents, and chemical media.

Disadvantages: Fluorosilicone rubber (FSI, FVMQ) can be one of the most expensive polymers. Compared with silicone resin, fluorosilicone resin is limited by average tensile strength and poor bending performance. In some applications, fluorosilicone rubber is not suitable for use in brake fluids, hydrazine, and ketones.

Silicone (VMQ)

Advantages: Silicone (SI, VMQ) is a special type of elastomer known for its ability to adapt to a wide temperature range. Silicone rubber can exhibit excellent ozone resistance, weather resistance, oxidation resistance, compressibility, and moderate chemical resistance. Its high biocompatibility makes silicone resin an ideal choice for the medical industry. Silicone resin has good vibration damping performance and overall good dynamic performance at high temperatures.

Disadvantages: Silicone resins (SI, VMQ) are typically limited by average tensile strength and poor fuel, solvent, wear, and bending performance. It usually has high permeability to gases and may be expensive.

Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR)

Advantages: Nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) is a special polymer with high physical properties. It is tough and wear-resistant. It can demonstrate excellent resistance to oil, solvents, and hydraulic oils. HNBR has good ozone, antioxidant, and chemical resistance.

Disadvantages: Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) is not recommended for applications involving highly polar fluids, aromatic hydrocarbons, or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Poor high-temperature resistance and high price.

EPDM rubber

Advantages: EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) elastomers can be used for resistance to ozone, oxygen, and thermal degradation, and are often recommended for outdoor applications. It exhibits good resistance to water, steam, alkali, acid, and oxygen-containing solvents. EPDM rubber has good low-temperature flexibility and can be vulcanized with sulfur and peroxide.

Disadvantages: EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is not recommended for applications that require oil resistance, gasoline, and hydrocarbons. EPDM rubber has poor compression deformation performance and poor adhesion to fabrics and metals.

Chlorohydrin rubber (ECO)

Advantages: Chlorohydrin rubber (ECO, CO) is a special type of elastomer that can be compared to nitrile rubber in solvent resistance (excellent resistance to oil, fuel, and petroleum based hydraulic fluids) and has good resistance to ozone, light, and oxidation. It has very low breathability and good heat resistance.

Disadvantages: Generally speaking, chlorohydrin rubber compounds are more expensive than nitrile rubber. Not suitable for steam, ketones, esters, and chlorinated solvents.

Butyl rubber (IIR)

Advantages: Butyl rubber is known for its airtightness and is often used for air sealing. It can have excellent heat resistance, oxygen resistance, ozone resistance, and sunlight resistance. In addition, it can provide excellent resistance to alkali, acid, and oxygen-containing solvents. It has high energy absorption capacity and can be a good electrical insulator.

Disadvantage: Butyl is not recommended for applications that require resistance to oil, gasoline, and hydrocarbon solvents. The processing performance of butyl rubber is poor.

Natural rubber (NR)

Advantages: Natural rubber (polyisoprene, NR) has excellent wear resistance, tensile strength, and elasticity. It has good adhesion to fabrics and metals, and has good low-temperature flexibility. Natural rubber generally has resistance to moderate chemicals, alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes.

Disadvantages: Natural rubber (polyisoprene, NR) is not suitable for applications involving outdoor exposure (ozone, thermal aging, and oxygen resistance). Natural rubber has poor resistance to corrosive chemicals, petroleum derivatives, fats, and non-polar solvents.

Neoprene rubber (CR)

Advantages: In general applications, chloroprene rubber (polychloroprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, CR) is known for its versatility. It exhibits good resistance to ozone, oxygen, sunlight, alkalis, and acids. Neoprene rubber has good flame retardancy. It can provide good tensile strength, elasticity, and moderate oil and gasoline resistance.

Disadvantages: Neoprene rubber (polychloroprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, CR) provides moderate oil resistance, but is not recommended for use in harsh fuel and hot oil products. It has poor resistance to aromatic and oxygen-containing solvents. Neoprene rubber is also limited by its low-temperature flexibility.

Nitrile rubber (NBR)

Advantages: For products that require oil resistance, nitrile (butadiene acrylonitrile, BUNAN, NBR) is the preferred polymer. It has excellent resistance to petroleum, gasoline, petroleum based hydraulic fluids, and hydrocarbon solvents. In addition, it can also provide good resistance to alkalis and acids. Nitrile rubber can adapt to a wide temperature range.

Disadvantages: Nitrile rubber (butadiene acrylonitrile, BUNAN, NBR) is not recommended for applications exposed to ozone, weathering, heat, and sunlight. It has poor resistance to polar solvents such as esters, ketones, chlorinated solvents, or nitrocarbons.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Advantages: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl) can be added with many additives to meet various specific end uses. It has universality and cost-effectiveness. Generally speaking, PVC is sturdy, elastic, non-conductive, and moisture-resistant. It has good flame retardancy and will self extinguish when the flame is removed. PVC materials come in various colors.

Disadvantages: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl) is limited by poor low-temperature performance. PVC is not recommended when subjected to high heat and mechanical stress, as elastomers become soft and deformed. Long term exposure to sunlight can cause color fading.

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)

Advantages: Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is a synthetic universal rubber with properties similar to natural rubber. It is a low-cost polymer that can exhibit excellent impact and tensile strength. It has good rebound performance, wear resistance, and low-temperature flexibility.

Disadvantages: The limitations of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) are similar to those of natural rubber. It is limited by ozone, sunlight, petroleum, gasoline, and hydrocarbon solvents.

Polyurethane (AU, EU)

Advantages: Polyurethane (AU, EU) has excellent resistance to ozone, sunlight, moderate chemicals, fats, oils, and fats. It has excellent wear resistance, high tensile strength, and good elongation. Polyurethane combines well with metals and fabrics.

Disadvantages: Polyurethane (AU, EU) is usually attacked by alkalis, acids, and oxygen-containing solvents. It usually exhibits poor compression deformation and is also relatively expensive.

Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM)

Advantages: CSM (Hypalon®) is recognized as an excellent wear-resistant rubber. It can resist ozone, light, and oxidation very well. CSM exhibits good stability and flame retardancy for oils and corrosive chemicals.

Disadvantages: CSM (Hypalon®) is more expensive than most general-purpose elastomers. It is not recommended to choose CSM for products that require contact with fuels, aromatic solvents, and hot oils. Usually, the resilience and compression deformation of CSM are not good.