Published - 5th Jan 2022
Rubber is an incredibly versatile, flexible, all-purpose material that is commonly used in a diverse range of high-performance industrial applications. Rubber can be shaped and moulded into complex forms, shapes, and configurations.
Rubber moulding is the process of using raw rubber compounds to produce a final product that is the correct shape and size. There are several different rubber moulding processes, including rubber injection moulding, transfer moulding and compression moulding.
The rubber moulding process can be performed using a range of rubber materials, including silicone, neoprene, nitrile, and EPDM.
A variety of different rubber compounds can be used for rubber moulding, including:
Derived from the latex sap of the Pará rubber tree, natural rubber is renowned for its incredible strength. Natural rubber has a high tensile strength and is resistant against tearing, cutting, ripping and chipping, making it the ideal material for applications including hoses, seals, vibration-dampers, bumpers, o-rings, gaskets, shock mounts and tubing.
Butyl rubber offers shock absorption, as well as outstanding resistance against harmful chemicals, extreme weather conditions, heat, ageing, tearing and abrasion. Incredibly versatile, Butyl also has brilliant electrical insulation properties and is used to create sealants, tank liners, o-rings, and in many vacuum applications.
Styrene-butadiene is a low-cost synthetic rubber that offers excellent resilience, outstanding abrasion resistance, impact strength and high tensile strength. This compound is mainly used to create applications such as tyres and tyre products, automotive parts, as well as mechanical rubber goods.
Made from ethylene, propylene, and a diene commoner for crosslinking, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is highly resistant to heat, light, ozone, and extreme weather conditions. Highly durable, it offers low electrical conductivity and low-temperature properties. It is widely used in applications such as steam systems, automotive panels, and braking systems.
Nitrile rubber is made from acrylonitrile and butadiene, using the emulsifier process. This is the most commonly used synthetic rubber in the rubber moulding process, thanks to its resistance to oil, water, fluids, and solvents. It is also resistant to abrasion and tearing.
Hydrogenated nitrile rubber compounds offer excellent oil and chemical resistance and, as a result, can withstand higher temperatures than other rubber compounds. Providing more than adequate resistance to chemicals, steam, fuels and oils, HNBR is widely used in all areas of the automotive industry, as well as for applications such as static seals, hoses, and belts.
Composed of silicon, combined with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, silicone offers incredible resistance against steam, water and petroleum fluids, making an excellent choice for creating sealants, lubricants and circuit boards across a diverse range of applications.
There are many different types of silicone rubbers, including methyl, methyl phenyl, methyl vinyl, and fluoro vinyl methyl.
Perfectly capable of handling a diverse array of applications, Viton stands out for offering exceptional temperature stability and is one of the most common elastomers used for sealing applications such as gaskets, o-rings and seals.
Tough, strong and versatile, polyurethane provides excellent compression and heat resistance and is commonly used for creating o-rings for hydraulic fittings, valves cylinders, and pneumatic tools. It is made by reacting a polyol with a diisocyanate or polymeric isocyanate, after being combined with a catalyst.
Neoprene rubber is produced through the emulsion polymerization of chloroprene using a potassium catalyst. It is resistant to weather, temperature, fire, and abrasion. It is also resistant to degradation, making it ideal for use in gaskets, hoses, and coatings.
We have the technical expertise both in design and rubber technology, along with a comprehensive range of plants and machinery to meet and satisfy the needs of our customers.
With over 40 years of experience in the rubber moulding industry and building relationships with customers in many market sectors, we are now recognised worldwide for excellent quality – certified ISO 9001.
We are the leading rubber component supplier offering a wide range of solutions in the UK and internationally. We are able to manufacture from any polymer to meet product design specifications.
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