Common name

Chemical name

Abbre-
viation

Temperature range

Min

Max

Natural

Isoprene Rubber, Natural

NR

-50°C

+70°C
(+100°C intermittently)

Strengths

High tensile strength with a good resistance to abrasion, tear and fatigue. Electrical properties and and low temperature behaviour are excellent.

Weaknesses

Susceptible to attack by ozone. Poor resistance to mineral and prtroleum based oils.

Neoprene

Chloroprene Rubber

CR

-40°C

+100°C
(+125°C intermittently)

Strengths

Good ageing, abrasion and weathering resistance with medium resistance to petroleum based oils. Lend themselves to low flammability applications.

Weaknesses

Poor electrical properties though adequate for sheathing. Not resistant to ester lubricants.

Silicone

Silicone Rubber

Q

-45°C

+200°C 
(+250°C intermittently)

Strengths

Outstanding ozone and good weathering resistance. Good electrical properties. All Properties are fairly constant over the temperature range.

Weaknesses

Poor reststance to petroleum-based fluids. Has a tendency to creep.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride

PVC

-20°C

+100°C

Strengths

Low permeability and high tensile strength. Good all weathering properties.

Weaknesses

Only fair mechanical properties.

EPDM

Ethylene Propylene

EPDM

-50°C

+125°C

Strengths

Outstanding resistance to ozone, light ageing and heat ageing and many inorganic and organic chemicals. Good low temperature behaviour.

Weaknesses

Poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids.

Nitrile

Acrylonitrile-butadiene Rubber

NBR

-40°C

+100°C
(+150°C intermittently)

Strengths

Excellent fuel and oil resistance.

Weaknesses

Poor ozone, and low temperature performance but these can be both amended by the addition of plasticizers.

Viton®

Fluorocarbon

FPM

-30°C

+200°C
(+275°C intermittently)

Strengths

Excellent resistance to heat, oil, ozone, weather and chemical attack with very good mechanical properties retained after long term ageing and high temperature.

Weaknesses

Only fair low temperature performance.