COMPARATIVE PROPERTIES of SYNTHETIC ELASTOMERS
The data included in the Comparative Properties of Synthetic Elastomers is intended to be a guide for selecting the best base polymer for a specific environment. These properties can be affected based on the formulation and mixing method. Since the discovery of vulcanization, great strides have been made in elastomer technology. The most noticeable advancement is in the new and better polymers.
| Properties | Epichlorohydrin | Fluorosilicone | Butyl Isobutylene Isoprene | Nitrile (Buna N) Butadiene Acrylonitrile |
Silicone Polysiloxane Polymer | Neoprene Chloroprene | Fluoroelastomer Co-polymer of Vinylidene Fluoride and Hexafluoro-propylene | Ethylene Propylene Hydrocarbon | ||
| Tensile Strength (PSI) (1000 psi = 6.9 MPa) | Pure Gum | Over 2000 | Below 1500 | Over 1500 | Below 1000 | Below 1500 | Over 3000 | Over 2000 | Over 2000 | |
| Black Loaded Stocks | Over 2000 | — | Over 2000 | Over 2000 | — | Over 3000 | Over 2000 | Over 3000 | ||
| Hardness Range (Shore Duro A) | 50-95 | 40-85 | 40-75 | 40-95 | 20-85 | 40-95 | 60-95 | 40-90 | ||
| Specific Gravity (Base Material) | 1.27-1.36 | 1.4-1.5 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 1.1 to 1.3 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 0.85 | ||
| Vulcanizing Properties | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | ||
| Adhesion to Metals | Good | Fair | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good to Excellent | Fair | ||
| Adhesion to Fabrics | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Good to Excellent | Good | ||
| Tear Resistance | Fair | Poor | Good | Fair | Poor | Good | Fair | Very Good | ||
| Abrasion Resistance | Fair | Poor | Good | Good | Poor | Excellent | Good | Very Good | ||
| Compression Set | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Fair | Fair to Good | Very Good | Very Good | ||
| Rebound | Cold | Fair | Excellent | Bad | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | |
| Hot | Fair | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Good | ||
| Dielectric Strength | Fair | Good | Excellent | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | ||
| Electrical Insulation | Fair | Good | Good to Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Fair to Good | Fair to Good | Excellent | ||
| Permeability to Gases | Excellent | Fair | Very Low | Fair | Fair | Low | Very Low | Low | ||
| Acid Resistance | Dilute | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | |
| Concentrated | Good | Fair | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good | Excellent | Very Good | ||
| Solvent Resistance | Aliphatic Hydrocarbons | Excellent | Good | Poor | Excellent | Poor | Good | Excellent | Poor | |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Excellent | Very Good | Poor | Good | Poor | Fair | Excellent | Poor | ||
| Oxygenated (Ketones, etc.) | Poor | Poor | Good | Poor | Fair | Poor | Poor | Very Good | ||
| Lacquer Solvents | Poor | Fair | Poor | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor | Very Good | ||
| Resistance to: | Swelling in Lubricating Oil | Good | Good | Poor | Very Good | Fair | Good | Excellent | Poor | |
| Oil and Gasoline | Poor | Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Fair | Good | Excellent | Poor | ||
| Animal and Vegetable Oils | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Good | Excellent | Good | ||
| Water Absorption | Fair to Good | Excellent | Very Good | Fair to Good | Good | Good | Very Good | Good to Excellent | ||
| Oxidation | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Outstanding | Excellent | ||
| Ozone | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Outstanding | Excellent | ||
| Sunlight Aging | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Poor | Excellent | Very Good | Very Good | Excellent | ||
| Heat Aging | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Outstanding | Excellent | Outstanding | Excellent | ||
| Flame | Good | Fair | Poor | Poor | Fair | Good | Good | Poor | ||
| Heat | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | ||
| Cold | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | ||