Material Guide: Natural Rubber

Our Guide To NR – Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is the only non-synthetic rubber available on the market and has been in commercial use since the beginning of the 20th century. NR is extracted from the sap of the Hevea Brasiliensis tree grown in renewable plantations. One true advantage of NR is that it is fully biodegradable.

What Are The Advantages Of NR?

The tensile strength, elongation, and abrasion resistance of NR is excellent over a wide hardness range. With the exception of certain formulations of polybutadiene, it has the highest resilience of all rubbers. Natural rubber is known for having good tear strength, fatigue resistance, and excellent compression set. All of these benefits make natural rubber the ideal choice for dynamic applications at low and ambient temperatures.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Natural Rubber?

Although natural rubber can be used with water and some dilute acids, alkalis and chemicals, EPDM usually is preferable for most aqueous applications.

Natural rubber compounds are not suitable for exposure to petroleum-based oils and fuels. The reason being is that natural rubber has poor resistance to oils and elevated temperatures and is susceptible to attack by ozone unless specifically compounded with antiozonants.

What Are The Typical Applications Of Natural Rubber?

Some of the typical applications that natural rubber can be used in include:

• Anti-vibration mounts
• Drive couplings
• Haul-off pads
• Tyres

What Temperatures Can Natural Rubber Operate Under?

The typical working temperature for natural rubber ranges from -50°C to +70°C.

Looking for more detailed information on the different types of rubbers and polymers we work with? Then check out our material guides where you can find FAQ’s and more guides like this one detailing all you need to know. If you are looking for rubber or polymer products get in touch with DLR Elastomer today via our contact page or via LinkedIn and we can chat over your requirements.