Elastomers compared for industrial applications

Elastomers are a central component of numerous applications in industrial practice. They perform functions that rigid materials cannot: sealing, vibration damping, flexible mounting or protection against media and environmental influences. At the same time, the choice of material often determines the reliability of entire systems. An incorrectly selected elastomer leads to leaks, premature wear or even failure of equipment.

In many projects, material selection is underestimated or made too simplistically. Yet elastomers differ considerably in their properties. Temperature resistance, media resistance, mechanical load capacity and ageing behaviour vary greatly depending on the material. This overview shows the most important elastomer types in direct comparison and helps you make well-founded decisions for industrial applications.

What are elastomers?

Elastomers are highly elastic materials that deform significantly under load and, once the load is removed, return almost completely to their original shape. This property is based on their molecular structure, which consists of loosely cross-linked polymer chains. This produces a material behaviour that is both flexible and dimensionally stable.

In industrial use, elastomers often act as a functional interface between rigid components. They compensate for movement, reliably seal connections and absorb mechanical loads. At the same time, they react sensitively to external influences such as temperature, media or UV radiation, which is why the selection of the right material must always be made in the context of the specific application.

Important elastomer types at a glance

Various elastomer types are used in industry, each developed for specific requirements. The differences lie primarily in resistance to media, temperatures and mechanical loads. The following materials are among the most important representatives.

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber)

EPDM stands out for its very high resistance to weather, UV radiation and ozone. This makes this material particularly suitable for outdoor applications and wherever long-term stability under environmental influences is required.

NBR (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)

NBR is regarded as the classic material for applications involving contact with oil and fuel. Its strength lies in its high resistance to mineral oils, which is why it is used in many technical applications in mechanical engineering and hydraulics.

FKM (fluororubber, e.g. Viton)

FKM is characterised by exceptionally high resistance to chemicals and high temperatures. This material is used wherever standard elastomers reach their limits, for example in the chemical industry or in the automotive sector.

Silicone (VMQ)

Silicone offers a very wide temperature range and remains flexible both at extreme temperatures and in the cold. It is also suitable for applications involving food contact, which is why it is used in sensitive areas such as food technology and medical technology.

PU (polyurethane)

Polyurethane is less a classic sealing material than a high-performance elastomer for mechanically demanding applications. It stands out for its very high abrasion resistance and load capacity and is frequently used in heavily stressed components.

Comparison of the most important elastomers

Material	Temperature range	Oil resistance	Chemicals	UV/ozone	Abrasion resistance	Service life
EPDM	-40 to +120 °C	low	good	very good	medium	very high
NBR	-30 to +100 °C	very good	medium	low	good	medium
FKM	-20 to +200 °C	very good	very good	good	medium	high
Silicone	-60 to +200 °C	low	medium	very good	low	high
PU	-30 to +80 °C	good	medium	medium	very good	medium

How to choose the right elastomer

In practice, the selection of a suitable elastomer can be approached in a structured way. A clear procedure reduces wrong decisions and speeds up material selection.

First, the focus is on analysing the medium. Oil, water, chemicals or food contact already define the direction of material selection. This is followed by consideration of temperature, both in continuous operation and at short-term peaks.

In the next step, the mechanical load is assessed. Movements, pressure conditions and abrasion act directly on the material and significantly influence service life. In addition, the environment plays a role, for example through UV radiation or weather.

Anyone who combines these factors properly reaches the right elastomer much faster and reduces the risk of failure.

Selection criteria for industrial applications

The selection of a suitable elastomer is always based on the specific operating conditions. The focus here is on the medium with which the material comes into contact, as well as the temperature ranges to which the material is exposed permanently or short-term. In addition, mechanical loads play an essential role, for example through pressure, movement or abrasion.

The environment also significantly influences material selection. UV radiation, ozone or changing weather conditions quickly lead to ageing and material failure in unsuitable materials. A well-founded selection therefore always takes into account the interaction of all factors and evaluates them in the context of the application.

In practice, it becomes clear that typical use cases have clear tendencies. Oil-based media favour materials such as NBR or FKM, while outdoor applications are often implemented with EPDM. High temperatures require materials such as silicone or FKM, while polyurethane represents a sensible choice under heavy mechanical stress.

Practical examples from industry

Typical applications show very clearly which elastomer proves itself in practice.

A hydraulic seal with permanent contact with oil is generally implemented with NBR, while FKM is used at higher temperatures or with aggressive media. Seals in outdoor areas benefit from EPDM, as this material remains stable against UV radiation and weather.

In food technology, silicone elastomers are frequently used, as they are temperature-resistant and suitable for contact with food. In heavily stressed components, for example in conveyor technology or mechanical engineering, polyurethane shows its strengths through high abrasion resistance.

Typical areas of application in industry

Elastomers are used in almost all industrial sectors:

• Mechanical engineering: seals, bearings, vibration dampers
• Automotive industry: hoses, sealing systems
• Food industry: hygienic seals
• Construction industry: seals and profiles

Understanding technical characteristics

Technical characteristics play a central role in a well-founded material decision. Shore hardness describes the firmness of an elastomer and influences how strongly the material deforms under load. Compression set indicates how well an elastomer returns to its original shape after permanent load.

In addition, standards and specifications provide important guidance, particularly in safety-critical applications. These characteristics help to compare materials objectively and make the right selection.

Common mistakes in selection

In practice, problems often arise from the wrong choice of material:

• incorrect assessment of media resistance
• temperature range underestimated
• mechanical load not taken into account
• service life calculated too optimistically

Even small deviations lead to premature wear or failure.

Internal further links

For specific applications, you will find suitable solutions directly in the relevant areas:

If you need robust materials for surface applications, you will find suitable options with rubber sheets for industrial applications. For precise sealing in mechanical engineering, technical seals are a good choice, while O-rings are used specifically for dynamic and static sealing points.

Custom cut pieces also allow exact adaptation to your application and reduce assembly effort as well as material wear.

Decision aid: Which elastomer fits?

A clear decision logic from practice helps with a quick assessment:

• Contact with oil or fuel → NBR or FKM
• High temperatures or aggressive chemicals → FKM or silicone
• Outdoor area with UV and weather → EPDM
• High mechanical load or abrasion → polyurethane

This simple assignment does not replace a detailed examination, but it does provide a reliable initial orientation for material selection.

In conclusion

The selection of an elastomer is a technical decision with direct effects on the function and service life of a component. Different materials fulfil different requirements, which is why a blanket recommendation does not provide a reliable basis.

A clean analysis of the operating conditions generally leads to the right material faster than a mere comparison of individual properties. Temperature, medium, mechanical load and environment always act together and should be considered as an overall system.

Companies that take these factors into account at an early stage avoid failures, reduce maintenance effort and increase operational safety. At the same time, a clear competitive advantage arises, as systems work more reliably and downtime is reduced.

If you are unsure about material selection or would like to assess a specific application, an individual review of the requirements is recommended. This allows the optimal solution to be determined much faster and more reliably.

Frequently asked questions about elastomers in industrial use

Which elastomer is suitable for oil?

NBR is the classic material for oil-based applications. At higher temperatures or with additional chemical exposure, FKM is often the better choice.

Which elastomer is temperature-resistant?

Silicone and FKM are suitable for high temperatures. Silicone also covers very low temperatures well and remains flexible even in the cold.

What is the difference between EPDM and NBR?

EPDM is strong against UV, ozone and weather and is therefore well suited to outdoor applications. NBR is significantly better suited to oil, grease and fuels and is frequently used in mechanical engineering.

Which elastomer is suitable for outdoor areas?

EPDM is usually the best choice for outdoor areas. The material is very resistant to sun, ozone, moisture and changing weather conditions.

Which elastomer suits high mechanical load?

Polyurethane is very well suited to applications involving abrasion, pressure and high stress. It is therefore often used for rollers, wear parts and stressed technical components.

Which elastomer is suitable for chemicals?

FKM offers very high resistance to many chemicals and is therefore frequently used in the chemical industry. For the exact selection, however, the specific medium should always be checked.

What does Shore hardness mean for elastomers?

Shore hardness describes how soft or hard an elastomer is. It influences the deformation behaviour, the sealing and the mechanical load capacity of a component.

How long do elastomers last?

Service life depends heavily on temperature, medium, mechanical load and ambient conditions. With the right material selection, elastomers often last many years; with the wrong selection, embrittlement or failure can occur quickly.

Which elastomer is suitable for food?

Silicone is frequently used for applications in food technology. The material is temperature-resistant and suitable for many hygienically sensitive areas of use.

When is FKM more sensible than NBR?

FKM is sensible when, in addition to oil resistance, high temperatures or aggressive media also play a role. NBR is usually more economical, while FKM offers higher resistance in demanding applications.

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 manufactured from first-class styrene-butadiene rubber and stands out for its outstanding physical properties.

EPDM rubber sheet

Discover the versatility and reliability of our EPDM rubber sheet, which is manufactured 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 requiring excellent resistance to oils, greases and various chemicals.

Viton rubber sheet

The Viton rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is used for a wide range of industrial applications. Manufactured from fluororubber (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 fluororubber (FKM), it stands out for a wide range of outstanding properties that make it the optimal 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 placing high demands on temperature resistance and flexibility.

PUR rubber sheet

The PUR rubber sheet, manufactured from high-quality polyurethane, is a technically advanced product that has been developed for applications placing the highest demands on abrasion resistance and mechanical load capacity.

Neoprene rubber sheet

The neoprene rubber sheet, manufactured from high-quality chloroprene rubber (CR), is a versatile technical product that is ideal for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.