Things that make Nitrile Rubber (NBR) a Unique Option

Nitrile rubber also referred to as NBR sheet, Buna-N, and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber is a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene.

There is a difference in its physical and chemical properties but it depends on the polymer’s composition of nitrile. In being generally resistant to oil, fuel, and other chemicals this type of synthetic rubber is an unusual one. So, within the polymer, if there is more nitrile then it shows higher resistance to oils but the flexibility of the material becomes low.

In the seal industry, today Nitrile is the most widely used elastomer. As ordinary rubbers can’t be used in the automotive and aeronautical industry, this thing is used to make fuel and oil handling hoses, grommets, self-sealing fuel tanks, and seals. In aeronautical applications, the ability of NBR’s to withstand a range of temperatures from -40 to 108 °C (-40 to 226 °F) makes it an ideal material. Nitrile butadiene is even used to create foams, footwear, sponges, adhesives, sealants, molded goods, expanded, and floor mats. In the preparation of adhesives and as a pigment binder there is the use of NBR rubber sheet.

Typical applications: Used in Automotive Fuel Systems, Off-Road Equipment, Aircraft Fuel Systems, & Marine Fuel Systems.

Due to its resilience NBR becomes a useful material for disposable lab, cleaning, and examination gloves. To oils and acids, Nitrile rubber is more resistant than natural rubber with superior strength, but it has less flexibility. Compared to natural rubber gloves, Nitrile gloves are more puncture-resistant, especially if the former is degraded by exposure to chemicals or ozone. There is very little possibility of having an allergic reaction due to Nitrile rubber.

Few Properties of Nitrile (NBR) Rubber

Some typical compounds have good resistance to vegetable oils, benzene/petrol, mineral oils, ordinary diluted acids, and alkaline.

In the properties of oil resistant NBR rubber sheet, a very important factor is the ratio of acrylonitrile groups to butadiene groups in the polymer backbone which is referred to as the ACN content. The glass transition temperature is lowered because of the lowering of the CAN content. There will be better resistance for the polymer towards non-polar solvents with higher ACN content.