This image was created with artificial intelligence – marked under Art. 50 of the AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. It is a placeholder until the company's photos arrive.Implementing wear protection with elastomers in industry
Flat gaskets made of rubber in NBR, EPDM, FKM & silicone. Find out all about applications, selection criteria and custom-made parts.
Wear is one of the most common causes of downtime, maintenance costs and premature replacement of components. In many industrial applications it is caused by friction, impact loads, particle transport or aggressive media. Elastomers offer an effective way to protect components and significantly extend the service life of systems.
If you want to reduce wear in a targeted way and operate your systems more economically, dimensionally accurate rubber solutions offer a direct lever. In particular, individually manufactured rubber sheets as cut pieces and technical elastomer components can be adapted exactly to your application.
Even at the planning stage, a stable and long-lasting solution can be created through the targeted use of elastomers. Companies benefit from lower downtime, reduced maintenance intervals and overall higher process reliability.
Properties of elastomers in wear protection
Elastomers have a special material structure that enables them to absorb mechanical loads while reacting flexibly at the same time. In contrast to rigid materials, they distribute applied forces over their surface and thereby reduce local load peaks, which frequently lead to wear or material damage.
A key advantage lies in the high abrasion resistance of many elastomers, particularly under continuous friction caused by bulk materials or moving components. At the same time, the elastic deformability ensures that impacts and blows are cushioned, which protects adjacent structures. In addition, the damping properties help to significantly reduce noise and vibration.
Depending on the material, elastomers also offer pronounced resistance to chemicals, moisture or temperature fluctuations. Typical areas of use are often in temperature ranges from -30 °C to +100 °C for standard materials, while special materials can be used well beyond this.
Typical areas of use in industry
Elastomers are used in wear protection in numerous industries and applications.
Conveyor technology
In conveyor technology, particularly high loads occur due to continuous movement and the transport of abrasive materials. Elastomers are used here in a targeted way to protect contact surfaces, stabilise the material flow and increase the service life of system components. Their damping properties also reduce impact loads at transfer points and ensure more uniform operation.
Mechanical and plant engineering
In mechanical and plant engineering, elastomers are used to protect components from mechanical wear while at the same time improving functionality. They serve as a protective layer, damping element or flexible connection and help to reduce the load on sensitive components. This extends the service life of the machines and allows maintenance intervals to be optimised.
Silos and bulk material systems
In silos and bulk material systems, material movement and friction often cause considerable wear. Elastomers ensure a more uniform material flow and protect the inner surfaces from abrasion. At the same time, they prevent adhesion and promote efficient emptying.
Selecting the right elastomer
The choice of material largely determines the performance of the solution. Different elastomers offer specific advantages.
| Material | Properties | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| NR (natural rubber) | Very high abrasion resistance, elastic | Conveyor technology, impact protection |
| SBR | Good mechanical properties, cost-efficient | General wear protection |
| NBR | Oil- and fuel-resistant | Mechanical engineering, seals |
| EPDM | Weather- and ozone-resistant | Outdoor applications |
| PU (polyurethane) | Very high wear resistance, cut-resistant | Highly loaded applications |
The selection is based on load, temperature, media contact and mechanical requirements. Shore hardness is particularly relevant here. Typical ranges are between 40 and 80 Shore A. Low values offer high damping, higher values increase abrasion resistance.
Decision logic for practice
If heavy abrasion is caused by bulk material, natural rubber or polyurethane is recommended. In contact with oil or fuels, NBR offers clear advantages. For outdoor applications with weather exposure, EPDM is suitable. Under very high mechanical load and cutting stress, polyurethane shows the best results.
This simple assignment reduces wrong decisions and considerably speeds up selection.
Constructive implementation in practice
Effective wear protection results from the combination of material selection and constructive design.
Typical solutions consist of dimensionally accurate rubber cut pieces or individually manufactured components. Bonded systems are suitable for flat applications, while bolted solutions offer advantages in maintenance and replacement.
Precise adaptation to the geometry of the system significantly increases effectiveness and prevents premature wear at transitions.
Advantages over rigid materials
| Criterion | Elastomer | Metal | Plastic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abrasion behaviour | Very good | Medium | Medium |
| Noise generation | Very low | High | Medium |
| Impact damping | Very high | Very low | Low |
| Maintenance | Low | High | Medium |
Common mistakes in planning and use
- Unsuitable material selection for the actual load situation
- Wrong Shore hardness in relation to abrasion and impact stress
- Failure to take temperature, moisture or media into account
- Inaccurate cut pieces with weak points at transitions
- Unsuitable fastening such as insufficient bonding or loose bolting
- Use of standard solutions for individual requirements
Practical examples from industry
- Conveyor technology: elastomer lining significantly increases the service life of transfer points
- Bulk material systems: rubber lining reduces adhesion and improves the material flow
- Mechanical engineering: elastic protective layers greatly extend the service life of heavily loaded components
- Feed points: reduced impact load leads to less material breakage and lower noise generation
- Silo lining: uniform flow reduces cleaning and maintenance effort
Recommended action
The use of elastomers offers high potential for reducing wear and optimising systems. The greatest lever lies in the combination of the right material selection, suitable hardness and exact adaptation to the application.
A structured analysis of the load situation forms the basis. This is followed by the selection of a suitable material and implementation as a dimensionally accurate solution. Standard products often deliver only average results, while individually manufactured components achieve a significantly longer service life.
If you want to reduce wear permanently, a concrete design of your application is recommended. Individual solutions enable targeted adaptation to your requirements and create long-term economic advantages.
Frequently asked questions about wear protection with elastomers
Which elastomer is suitable for heavy abrasion?
Natural rubber and polyurethane offer very high abrasion resistance and are particularly suitable for conveyor technology, bulk material and heavily stressed contact surfaces.
Which Shore hardness is sensible?
Typical ranges are between 40 and 80 Shore A. Lower values improve damping, higher values usually increase resistance to abrasion and mechanical load.
When is an individual solution worthwhile?
For recurring wear, complex geometries or high loads, a tailor-made solution usually brings significantly longer service lives and better processes.
How can the service life of wear parts be increased?
The greatest levers lie in the right material selection, a suitable Shore hardness, clean transitions and stable fastening of the components.
Where are elastomers used particularly frequently in wear protection?
Typical areas of use are conveyor technology, mechanical engineering, plant engineering, silos, bulk material systems, feed points and transfer points with high abrasion or impact load.
What is the advantage over metal or rigid plastics?
Elastomers damp impacts, reduce noise, protect adjacent components and offer very effective abrasion protection in many dynamic 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 excellent 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 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 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.
