Nitrile Rubber
What is Nitrile Rubber?
Nitrile rubber, also known as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), is a synthetic rubber with excellent resistance to petroleum-based oils, mineral oils and vegetable oils. Nitrile rubber is more resistant than natural rubber to oils, acids and heat aging. Furthermore, Nitrile offers superior abrasion resistance and properties for metal adhesion.
Nitrile is an incredibly versatile rubber material. However, it has poor weathering properties. As a result, it is not recommended for use in applications involving exposure to ozone, esters, ketones, aldehydes and chlorinated/nitro hydrocarbons.
Read below for advantages and properties of Nitrile rubber:
Advantages of Nitrile Rubber
- Ideal for sealing applications
- Good compression set
- High abrasion resistance
- High tensile strength
- Heat resistant
- Water Resistance
- Low gas permeability
Properties of Nitrile Rubber
- ASTM D-2000 Classification BF, BG, BK (Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications)
- Chemical Definition: Acrylonitrile Butadiene
- Abbreviations: NBR
Processing Nitrile Rubber Products
- Transfer Molding
- Injection Molding
- Compression Molding
Physical & Mechanical Properties
- Durometer: 20 – 95 Shore A
- Tensile Strength: 200 – 3,500 PSI
- Elongation (Range %): 350% – 650%
- Abrasion Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Adhesion to Metal: Excellent
- Adhesion to Rigid Materials: Good – Excellent
- Compression Set: Good – Excellent
- Flex Cracking Resistance: Fair – Good
- Impact Resistance: Fair – Good
- Resilience & Rebound: Good
- Tear Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Vibration Dampening: Fair – Good
Chemical Resistance
- Dilute Acids: Good
- Concentrated Acids: Poor – Fair
- Organic Acids (Dilute): Good
- Organic Acids (Concentrated): Poor
- Inorganic Acids: Fair – Good
- Alcohols: Fair – Good
- Aldehydes: Poor – Fair
- Dilute Alkalies: Good
- Concentrated Alkalies: Poor – Good
- Amines: Poor
- Animal & Vegetable Oils: Good – Excellent
- Non-Petroleum Brake Fluids: Poor
- Diester Oils: Fair – Good
- Alkyl Phosphate Esters: Poor
- Aryl Phosphate Esters: Poor – Fair
- Ethers: Poor
- Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Good – Excellent
- Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fuel: Fair – Good
- Extended Fuel (Oxygenated): Fair – Good
- Halogenated Solvents: Poor
- Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Poor – Fair
- Ketones: Poor
- Lacquer Solvents: Fair
- LP Gases & Fuel Oils: Excellent
- Mineral Oils: Excellent
- Oil Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Aromatic Petroleum: Good
- Non-Aromatic Petroleum: Excellent
- Ammonia Refrigerant: Good
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons: R-11, R-12, R-13
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons with Oil: R-11, R-12
- Silicone Oil: Good
- Solvent Resistance: Good – Excellent
Thermal Properties
- Low Temperature Range: -70ºF – 0ºF
- Minimum for Continuous Use (Static): -40ºF
- Brittle Point: -70°F – 0ºF
- High Temperature Range: +210°F – +250ºF
- Maximum for Continuous Use (Static): +250ºF
Environmental Performance
- Colorability: Excellent
- Flame Resistance: Poor
- Gas Permeability: Fair – Excellent
- Odor: Good
- Ozone Resistance: Fair – Good
- Oxidation Resistance: Good
- Radiation Resistance: Fair – Good
- Steam Resistance: Fair – Good
- Sunlight Resistance: Poor – Good
- Taste Retention: Fair – Good
- Weather Resistance: Fair – Good
- Water Resistance: Good – Excellent
Applications of Nitrile Rubber Products
Automotive
- Gaskets
- Seals
- O-rings
- Diaphragms
- Fuel systems
- Hoses and tubing
Bowling
- Components exposed to lane oil
- Pin setters
- Roller bumpers
Oil/Gas
- Seals
- Tubing
- Rubber connectors rubber-to-metal bonded parts