1.Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR)

Copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile.

Features: Excellent resistance to gasoline and aliphatic hydrocarbon oils, second only to polysulfide rubber, acrylate rubber and fluororubber, and superior to other general-purpose rubbers. Good heat resistance, air tightness, wear resistance, water resistance and strong adhesion.

Drawbacks: Poor cold resistance and ozone resistance, low tensile strength and elasticity, weak acid resistance, poor electrical insulation, and inferior resistance to polar solvents.

Operating temperature range: approx. −25°C to +100°C.

Main uses: Manufacture of various oil-resistant products such as hoses and seals.

2.Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR)

Copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile.

Obtained by fully or partially hydrogenating the double bonds in the butadiene segment of NBR.

Features: High mechanical strength and wear resistance; better heat resistance than NBR when crosslinked with peroxide, with other properties similar to NBR.

Drawbacks: Relatively high cost.

Operating temperature range: approx. −30°C to +150°C.

Main uses: Oil-resistant and high-temperature-resistant sealing products.

3.Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPM/EPDM)

Copolymer of ethylene and propylene, generally divided into ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM).

Features: Outstanding ozone resistance, UV resistance, weather resistance and aging resistance, ranking first among general-purpose rubbers. Excellent electrical insulation, chemical resistance and impact resilience; resistant to acids and alkalis; low specific gravity, suitable for high-filler compounding. Heat resistance up to 150°C; resistant to polar solvents such as ketones and esters, but not to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Other physical and mechanical properties are slightly inferior to natural rubber but superior to styrene-butadiene rubber.

Drawbacks: Very poor self-tackiness and mutual tackiness, difficult to bond.

Operating temperature range: approx. −50°C to +150°C.

Main uses: Chemical equipment linings, wire and cable sheaths, steam hoses, heat-resistant conveyor belts, automotive rubber products and other industrial components.

4.Silicone Rubber (VMQ)

Specialty rubber with silicon and oxygen atoms in the main chain, where silicon plays a key role.

Features: Excellent high-temperature resistance (up to 300°C) and low-temperature resistance (down to −100°C), making it one of the best low-temperature and high-temperature resistant rubbers available. Also features outstanding electrical insulation, high stability against thermal oxidation and ozone, and strong chemical inertness.

Drawbacks: Low mechanical strength, poor oil resistance, solvent resistance, acid and alkali resistance; difficult to vulcanize; relatively expensive.

Operating temperature range: −60°C to +200°C.

Main uses: High and low temperature-resistant products (hoses, seals, etc.), high-temperature wire and cable insulation. Non-toxic and odorless, also used in food and medical industries.

5.Fluororubber (VITON/FPM)

Organic elastomer copolymerized from fluorine-containing monomers.

Features: High temperature resistance up to 300°C; resistant to acids and alkalis; excellent oil resistance among oil-resistant rubbers; good radiation resistance and high-vacuum resistance. Also outstanding in electrical insulation, mechanical properties, chemical corrosion resistance, ozone resistance and atmospheric aging resistance.

Drawbacks: Poor processability, high cost, poor cold resistance, low elasticity and air permeability.

Operating temperature range: −20°C to +200°C.

Main uses: Defense industry for vacuum-resistant, high-temperature-resistant and chemical corrosion-resistant seals, hoses and other parts for aircraft and rockets, as well as automotive industry.

6.Acrylate Rubber (ACM/AEM)

Polymer of ethyl acrylate or butyl acrylate.

Features: Balanced good heat resistance and oil resistance, stable performance in lubricating oils containing sulfur, phosphorus and chlorine additives. Also excellent in aging resistance, oxygen and ozone resistance, UV resistance and air tightness.

Drawbacks: Poor cold resistance; not resistant to water, steam, organic or inorganic acids and alkalis. Severe swelling occurs in water-soluble solutions such as methanol, ethylene glycol, ketones and esters. Also low elasticity and wear resistance, poor electrical insulation and processability.

Operating temperature range: approx. −25°C to +150°C.

Main uses: Oil-resistant, heat-resistant and aging-resistant products such as seals, hoses and chemical linings.