General comments on compound selection
This information can be used as a guide for selecting rubber compounds. Most products can be made in most of the base polymers and in many colours. The chemists at Macam Rubber can develop a compound to meet specific operating criteria. We have our own testing facility to test for hardness, tensile strength, compression set, cycle testing and heat aging and use outside testing services where necessary.

This table provides general information to assist in the choice of a type of rubber compound. For material to meet specific operating criteria the advice of our chemist must be sought. A rubber compound may need to be developed and appropriate testing carried out before the component parts are used in the application. For moredetailed operating specifications see the attached table.

Rubber base polymer selection
NATURAL RUBBER (NR)
Good dynamic, cut growth and abrasion properties, high mechanical strength and elasticity. Continuous operating temperature application range from 80°- 90° C

SBR (STYRENE-BUTADIENE RUBBER)
Good dynamic and abrasion properties, good resistance to swelling in alkalis and acids. Continuous temperature application range 80° - 90° C

NEOPRENE (CR - POLYCHLOROPRENE RUBBER)
Excellent oil resistance, self extinguishing, non flammable, good weathering resistance. Continuous temperature application range 80° - 90° C

EPDM (ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-DIENE TERPOLYMER)
Good weathering, ozone and acid resistance. Continuous operating temperature range 110° - 120° C, can be increased to approximately 150° C using a peroxide cure system

NITRILE (NBR - ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE RUBBER)
Resistance to petroleum products, acid and solvents. Good swelling resistance especially in aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils and grease. Continuous temperature application range 80° - 90° C

PVC/NITRILE (POLYVINYL CHLORIDE /ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE RUBBER)
Resistance to petroleum products, good acid and solvent resistance, good ozone and abrasion resistance, continuous temperature application range 80° - 90° C

VITON (FLUOROELASTOMERS - FPM)
Good oil, acid and solvent resistance at high temperatures. Continuous temperature application range of200° - 210° C

CHLORO SULPHONATED POLYETHYLENE (CSM)
Good weathering, ozone, acid and heat resistance. Continuous operating temperature range of 120° - 140° C

BUTADIENE (BR)
Good abrasion, rebound resilience. Low gas permeability, high damping behaviour. Continuous temperature application range 80° - 90° C

SILICONE (SI)
Good ozone resistance, good thermal resistance, especially dry heat, good dielectric properties. Oil resistance can be compounded into silicone rubber. Continuous temperature application range 230° - 250° C

LIQUID SILICONE (LSR) 
As for silicone, with a minimum hardness at 10 Shore A. It is popular for medical applications.