Chemical Guide
Follow basic safety practices to minimize risk when working with hazardous chemicals.
Higher temperatures increase the effect of chemicals on industrial rubber hose compounds. The increase varies with the polymer and the chemical. A compound quite suitable at room temperature might fail very quickly at higher temperatures.
A rubber hose compound usually swells when exposed to a chemical. With a given percent fo swell, a hose tube may function satisfactorily if the industrial hose is in a static condition, but fail quickly if the hose is subject to flexing.
Basic rubber polymers are sometimes mixed or blended together to enhance a particular property for a specific service. The reaction to a particular chemical blend of polymers may, therefore, somewhat different from the reaction to the single ones. When in doubt, a sample of the compound should always be tested with the particular chemical it is to handle.
COMMON NAME |
ASTM
Designation
D1418-93
|
COMPOSITION | GENERAL PROPERTIES |
Natural rubber | NR | Isoprene rubber | Excellent physical properties, including abrasion resistance. Not oil resistant. |
SBR | SBR | Styrene-butadiene rubber | Good physical properties, including abrasion resistance. Not oil resistant. |
Butyl rubber | IIR | Isobutene-isoprene rubber | Very good weathering resistance. Low permeability to air. Good physical properties. Poor resistance to petroleum based fluids. |
EPDM | EPDM | Ethylene-propylene diene- terpolymer | Good general purpose polymer. Excellent heat, ozone and weathering resistance. Not oil resistant. |
Cross linked polyethylene | XLPE | Cross linked polyethylene | Excellent resistance to most solvents, oils and chemicals. Do not confuse with chemical properties of standard polyethylene. |
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene | UHMWPE | Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene | Excellent resistance to most solvents, chemicals and hydrocarbons. Excellent abrasion and wear resistance. Inert and suitable for food contact. Do not confuse with chemical properties of standard polyethylene. |
Nitrile rubber | NBR | Acrylonitrile-butadience rubber | Excellent oil resistance. Good physical properties. |
Neoprene | CR | Chloroprene rubber | Excellent weathering resistance. Flame retardant. Good oil resistant. Good physical properties. |
Hypalon ® | CSM | Chloro-sulfonated polyethylene | Excellent ozone, weathering and acid resistance. Good abrasion and heat resistance. Can be compounded for good oil resistance. |