Rubber is such a versatile type of material today that is often used to make custom parts, from RV parts to vibration and shock isolators. If you plan on using rubber for your own custom parts, it's key to find the right type of rubber. This won't prove challenging if you approach this selection cautiously.
Review Intended Environment
Chances are your custom parts will have a particular environment that's ideal. You can use this intended environment to help you narrow in on a particular type of rubber.
For example, if your parts will be around chemical substances, then one rubber type that would be a good fit is nitrile. It's extremely resistant to chemicals like petroleum solvents and kerosene.
Conversely, if your parts will be around steam or environments where it will be really hot, then EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is one of the best rubber types to go with. It's extremely resistant to heat.
Examine Physical Properties
There are a lot of rubber options available today, but not all of them may be a good fit for the type of parts you plan on making. You'll thus want to take a look at the various properties of different rubbers. You'll then have a firmer grasp of which rubber varieties can yield the best results and lead to fewer issues.
Luckily, every rubber type will have a full breakdown of its properties and makeup. There should actually be charts online that make it easy to compare properties of different rubber types for added direction.
Talk to Industry Experts
Even with ample research and an understanding of the different rubber types, there may still be hesitancy in which rubber you go with. In this case, you can always reach out to industry experts that deal with custom rubber parts on a daily basis. It could be a manufacturer or a supplier that offers their own custom rubber products.
For assistance, tell these experts what type of parts you're making and explain how they'll be used. The experts can then provide a few recommendations that they see working out best based on past projects they've been involved in. You then won't have to buy on a whim.
Rubber is such an important material today, especially for those involved in making custom parts. Considering that there are a lot of different rubber options, it's essential to perform research in hopes of finding a particular type of rubber that ends up working out the way you want it to.
For more information on how to build your custom rubber parts, talk to an industrial supplier today.
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