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Which rubber sheet suits your application? Materials, areas of use and clear decision-making guidance for industry.
The choice of the right rubber sheet decides function, service life and safety in many industrial applications. The wrong choice of material regularly leads to failures, increased wear and unnecessary downtime. Different materials react very differently to temperature, media and mechanical load. The wrong choice quickly leads to wear, failures or unnecessary costs.
For a well-founded decision, the specific application always counts: contact with oil or chemicals, use outdoors, high temperatures or mechanical load. Each of these requirements calls for a suitable material.
Requirements for rubber sheets in industry
Industrial applications place clear requirements on rubber sheets, which vary greatly depending on the application. Temperature ranges, media contact, mechanical load and environmental influences act on the material at the same time.
A rubber sheet that works reliably in mechanical engineering can fail very quickly outdoors or in the chemical industry. This is exactly where the challenge lies: the selection must always be matched to the actual load.
Overview of the most important materials
NR (natural rubber)
Natural rubber impresses with high elasticity and tear strength. It is particularly suitable for applications with dynamic load, where the material is regularly deformed.
Typical areas of use are vibration-damping elements or mechanically stressed components where flexibility is the priority.
SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber)
SBR is regarded as an economical standard material for simple applications. It offers solid mechanical properties, but low resistance to oil and weathering.
SBR is used above all where there are no special requirements and cost plays a role.
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber)
EPDM shows a very high resistance to UV radiation, ozone and weathering. This makes this material particularly suitable for outdoor applications.
EPDM also remains stable and durable on contact with water or steam.
NBR (acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber)
NBR is the classic solution for applications with oil and fuel contact. The material remains dimensionally stable and resistant even under these conditions.
In mechanical engineering and technical systems, NBR is one of the most frequently used materials.
FKM (Viton)
FKM stands for maximum resistance at high temperatures and with aggressive media. This material is used wherever standard materials reach their limits.
Typical areas of use are the chemical industry or applications with permanently high thermal load.
Material comparison for industrial applications
| Material | Oil resistance | Temperature resistance | Weathering resistance | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NR | low | medium | low | Damping, mechanics |
| SBR | low | medium | low | Standard applications |
| EPDM | low | high | very high | Outdoors, water |
| NBR | high | medium | low | Oil, mechanical engineering |
| FKM | very high | very high | high | Chemicals, extremes |
Typical applications
- Mechanical engineering: oil contact and mechanical load → NBR
- Food industry: approved materials with tested compatibility → specified elastomers
- Chemical industry: aggressive media and high temperatures → FKM
- Outdoors / construction: UV, ozone, moisture → EPDM
- Vibration damping / mounting: dynamic load → NR
- Standard applications: low requirements → SBR
Decision matrix (application → material)
| Operating condition | Recommended material |
|---|---|
| Oil / fuel, medium temperature | NBR |
| Outdoors, UV, water, ozone | EPDM |
| Chemicals, high temperatures | FKM |
| Dynamic load | NR |
| Simple applications | SBR |
Technical guide values
| Material | Temperature range (approx.) | Shore hardness (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| NR | -40 to +80 °C | 40–70 Shore A |
| SBR | -30 to +100 °C | 60–80 Shore A |
| EPDM | -40 to +120 °C | 50–80 Shore A |
| NBR | -30 to +110 °C | 60–90 Shore A |
| FKM | -20 to +200 °C | 70–90 Shore A |
Practical examples from industry
In practice, the right choice of material becomes very clear. A typical case in mechanical engineering: a standard rubber sheet is used in an oil-carrying system. After a short time, the material swells, loses its shape and has to be replaced. Switching to NBR solves the problem permanently.
Another example from outdoors: an SBR sheet is used as a protective layer in the open air. UV radiation makes the material brittle and it tears. EPDM ensures a significantly longer service life here.
Cut to size and processing
Alongside the material, cutting to size plays a central role. Dimensional deviations or wrong thicknesses lead to problems in many applications.
Typical points from practice:
- Insufficient material thickness leads to premature wear
- Inaccurate dimensions make assembly more difficult
- The wrong cutting technique impairs edge quality
For industrial applications, cutting to size with dimensional accuracy is recommended, for example by waterjet technology. This also allows complex geometries to be produced cleanly. You can find details on this at /gummi-zuschnitt/.
How to choose the right rubber sheet
A reliable selection always follows a clear sequence:
- Step 1: determine the medium (oil, chemicals, water, air)
- Step 2: define the temperature range (continuous and short-term)
- Step 3: assess the mechanical load (pressure, movement, abrasion)
- Step 4: take the environment into account (UV, ozone, moisture)
- Step 5: derive the suitable material (e.g. NBR, EPDM, FKM)
This sequence ensures that the rubber sheet fits the application exactly and works reliably in the long term.
Important selection criteria
A rubber sheet is always selected on the basis of the real load situation. The decisive factors here are above all media resistance, the temperature range and mechanical stress.
In addition, environmental influences such as UV radiation or moisture play a role. In certain industries, regulatory requirements are added, which must be met without fail.
Common mistakes in selection
- Selection by price instead of by operating conditions
- Media contact (oil, chemicals, water) insufficiently taken into account
- Temperature ranges set too low
- Weathering and UV load underestimated
- Standard material used in a demanding application
- Mechanical load (pressure, abrasion, movement) assessed incorrectly
- Standards and approvals not checked
Decision aid
The right rubber sheet always results from the combination of requirements.
For applications with oil or fuels, NBR is suitable. For outdoors and weather-related load, EPDM offers the right solution. For high temperatures or aggressive media, FKM is used.
If mechanical load is the priority, natural rubber is a suitable choice. For simple applications without special requirements, SBR may be sufficient.
Enquiry and implementation
If you would like to select the right rubber sheet for your application, an individual consideration of material, thickness and cut to size is recommended.
Through dimensionally accurate solutions and individual production, you receive exactly the version your application needs. You can find further information at /gummi-zuschnitt/ or directly in the available materials at /gummiplatten/.
Frequently asked questions
Which rubber sheet is suitable for oil?
NBR is particularly suitable for applications with oil and fuel contact, as the material has a high resistance to these media.
Which rubber sheet is suitable for outdoors?
EPDM is a very good choice for outdoors, as this material is very resistant to UV radiation, ozone, moisture and weathering.
Which rubber sheet withstands high temperatures?
FKM is used for applications with high temperatures and aggressive media. This material is particularly suitable for demanding industrial environments.
Which rubber sheet is suitable for mechanical load?
NR is well suited to applications with dynamic and mechanical load, for example in vibration-damping or elastically stressed components.
Which rubber sheet is the cheapest?
SBR is regarded as an economical solution for standard applications where neither high chemical resistance nor special weather resistance is required.
How do I find the right rubber sheet for my application?
The selection should always be based on media contact, temperature range, mechanical load and operating environment. Only this combination produces the suitable material.
When is cutting to size with dimensional accuracy worthwhile?
Cutting to size with dimensional accuracy is always worthwhile when the rubber sheet has to fit exactly into machines, systems or technical constructions. This avoids assembly problems and unnecessary material waste.
Our rubber sheets
For industry and trade, we offer a wide variety of rubber sheets.
SBR rubber sheet
Our high-quality SBR rubber sheet (styrene-butadiene rubber) is the solution for numerous industrial and commercial applications. This rubber sheet is made from first-class styrene-butadiene rubber and stands out thanks to its outstanding physical properties.
EPDM rubber sheet
Discover the versatility and reliability of our EPDM rubber sheet, which is made from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). This high-quality elastomer solution has been specially developed to meet the most demanding industrial and commercial applications.
NBR rubber sheet
The NBR rubber sheet is a high-quality industrial product that has been specially developed for applications where excellent resistance to oils, greases and various chemicals is required.
Viton rubber sheet
The Viton rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is used for a wide range of industrial applications. Made from fluoro rubber (FKM), it offers outstanding properties that make it the ideal choice for extreme conditions.
FKM rubber sheet
The FKM rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is ideal for use in demanding industrial applications. Made from fluoro rubber (FKM), it stands out thanks to a wide range of outstanding properties that make it the optimum choice for extreme operating conditions.
Silicone rubber sheet
The silicone rubber sheet is a first-class technical product that has been specially developed for applications that place high demands on temperature resistance and flexibility.
PUR rubber sheet
The PUR rubber sheet, made from high-quality polyurethane, is a technically advanced product that has been developed for applications that place the highest demands on abrasion resistance and mechanical load capacity.
Neoprene rubber sheet
The Neoprene rubber sheet, made from high-quality chloroprene rubber (CR), is a versatile technical product that is ideal for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
