Material selection is the most important step when ordering rubber products. It determines service life, tightness and equipment safety.
NBR (nitrile rubber) — the industry workhorse. Excellent with oils, fuels, hydraulic fluids. Temperature: -30°C to +120°C. Most affordable price. Ideal for 80% of hydraulic and general industrial tasks.
EPDM (ethylene-propylene) — best choice for water, steam, alkalis and acids. Temperature: -40°C to +150°C. Not suitable for oils! Used in water supply, heating, food and pharmaceutical equipment.
Viton (FKM) — premium class. Withstands aggressive chemicals, acids, solvents. Temperature: up to +250°C. Costs 5-8x more than NBR, but irreplaceable in petrochemistry and high-temperature processes.
How to choose? Ask 3 questions: 1) What does the product contact? (oil → NBR, water → EPDM, chemicals → Viton). 2) Operating temperature? 3) Pressure?
Common mistake: saving on material. NBR ring in a steam system fails in a week, while EPDM lasts years. Viton in simple hydraulics is overpaying.
REZINA.UZ specialists will select the optimal material for your task free of charge. Write to WhatsApp.
Rule of thumb: oil — NBR; water and weather — EPDM; aggressive chemicals and high heat — FKM. Exceptions exist, so name the actual fluid, not “chemicals”.
Datasheet temperature is a standard test, not your peak. If oil briefly exceeds NBR, either cut the peak or move to FKM.
Swell is tested in the medium. A black ring is not automatically oil-resistant — EPDM is black too.
Send medium and temperature rather than three grades “to choose from”. The engineer will keep one.
