NR / IR; Natural rubber / Polyisoprene. (Natsyn®, Cariflex®)

-50 to +80ºC
Very good resistance to weathering and ozone, severe dynamic abrasion and vibration. High resilience and flex-fatigue resistance and hot tear.
Not widely resistant to most oils and chemicals. Combustible.
Used in tyres, drive couplings, bridge bearings, civil engineering.

SBR; Styrene Butadiene rubber. (Ameripol®, Intol®)

-40 to +100ºC
Substitute for more expensive NR. Greater hysteresis loss gives better grip in passenger car tyres. Improved ageing over NR/IR.
Moderate weathering and low chemical / oil resistance. Combustible
Used in tyres, audio, drive coupling and general rubber applications.

IIR; Butyl rubber. (Polysar®, Exxon®)

-50 to +100ºC
Very low gas permeability, insulating. Resistant to ozone and weather, refridgerants and a range of organic and inorganic fluids. Can also be polymerised with chlorine and Bromine to improve chemical resistance and flexibility. High damping.
Limitations include low resilience and combustibility.
Used in seals and gaskets, linings and membranes, diaphragms and some pharmaceutical goods.

CR; Polychloroprene rubber. (Neoprene®)

-35 to +110ºC
Very good resistance to oxidising agents, some oils, ozone & weathering, and refridgerants. Self extinguishing and good adhesion to metals.
Only moderate petroleum and water resistance unless modified with litharge cure compounds.
Used in belting, coated fabrics, cable jackets and domestic fridge door seals.

EPR / EPDM; Ethlylene Propylene rubber copolymers and terpolymers. (Keltan®, Vistalon®)

-50 to +180ºC
Excellent general purpose rubber with very good resistance to weathering and ozone. Normally electrically resistant but can be compounded to be conductive. Excellent resistance to hot water and steam.
Not recommended in certain mineral and synthetic fluids, lubricants and fuels. Combustible and only moderate adhesion to metals.
Used in automotive door seals, cable insulations, hoses and weather proofing / water proofing. Can be compounded for potable water (WRC) goods, foodstuff contact and some biomedical applications.

NBR / XNBR; Acrylonitrile Butadiene rubber. (Buna®, Nipol®, Europrene®)

-40 to +110ºC
Dependant on level of acrylonitrile content; low gas permeability, good heat age and ozone resistance, resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons and oils. Can be modified with PVC for improved age, weather resistance and fire retardancy. Also can be carboxylated (XNBR) for greatly improved tensile / abrasion resistance and other physical characteristics with higher temperature resistance.
Not recommended for use with polar solvents (e.g. MEK). Weather and ozone resistance only moderate unless specially compounded.
Used in seals and gaskets, diaphragms, drive couplings, audio equipment, hoses in oil and gas industries, also some food contact applications.

HNBR; Hydrogenated nitrile rubber. (Therban®, Zetpol®)

-40 to +180ºC
Greatly improved chemical and oil resistance to NBR, with higher temperature limit. Resistant to hot air and water, industrial lubricants, sour oil and gas, some corrosion inhibitors. Very high durability and abrasion resistance. Can be further modified with methacrylate for even higher physical and temperature applications.
The limitations are the same as NBR but the material has an extended temperature range.
Used in seals and gaskets, diaphragms in the oil and gas industries; a good intermediate where fluorocarbon rubbers are too expensive.

AU / EU; Polyurethane rubber. (Urepan®, Vibrathane®)

-35 to +70ºC
Outstanding tensile and abrasion resistance properties, with very good resistance to ozone and high energy radiation. Often specified where high durability or abrasion resistance is required with use in hydraulic fluids.
Main limitations are in hot climates where hydrolysis and microbacterial attack are likely.
Used in hydraulic seals and gaskets, diaphragms and hoses, skateboard wheels and specialised tyres.

ECO; Epichlorohydrin homopolymer, copolymers and terpolymers. (Hydrin®)

-50 to +130ºC
Resistant to a wide range of oils, water, acids and ozone, weathering and gases. Similar low gas permeability to nitriles but better low temperature flex-fatigue resistance.
Corrosive to metals, so not recommended in rubber to metal bonding. Not recommended in ketones, esters, alcohols and certain hydraulic fluids, oxidising agents and chlorine. Electrically not insulating.
Used in seals and gaskets, diaphragms, belts and cable sleeves.