Types of Polymer

TRP Polymer Solutions formulate rubber compounds from a complete range of polymer types.

Different types of polymer at TRP

We specialise in the development and formulation of rubber materials to meet our customers’ requirements. 

Whether you require the development of a brand-new product, or the redesign of an existing one, we will work closely with you at every step of the process to develop an optimal sealing solution. This begins with choosing the right polymer.

TRP offer materials suited to the harshest chemical environments and developed for use at both high and low temperatures.

View our range of polymers

We offer the following types of polymers, which are formulated to meet your physical properties requirements including hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, compression set and specific colours.

Here, you can find the operating temperatures, hardness range, advantages, disadvantages and typical uses of each of our polymer materials.

Click on any of the polymers below to see further details on each one.

Tetrafluoroethylene/propylene dipolymer (Aflas®)

ISO 1629

  • FEPM

Operating Temperature

  • -5°C to +200°C

Hardness Range

  • 70 to 90 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent high temperature properties
  • Excellent resistance to acids and bases
  • Excellent steam resistance
  • Excellent resistance to sour gas (H₂S)
  • Good oil resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor low temperature resistance
  • Poor compression set resistance
  • Poor extrusion resistance at high temperatures

Typical Use

  • Seal, 'O' rings and packers for oil and gas applications, gaskets for chlorine and chlorate manufacture

Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

ISO 1629

  • SBR

Operating Temperature

  • -25°C to +90°C

Hardness Range

  • 40 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent abrasion resistance
  • Good compression set resistance
  • Good water resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Poor steam resistance
  • Poor oil resistance

Typical Use

  • Rollers and feed tyres

Silicone

ISO 1629

  • MQ / VMQ

Operating Temperature

  • -60°C to +250°C

Hardness Range

  • 20 to 90 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent high and low temperature properties
  • Good flame resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor tear strength & abrasion resistance
  • High gas permeability
  • Poor resistance to oils and non polar solvents

Typical Use

  • Medical applications, seals for food applications, electrical insulation

PTFE / Elastomer composites

ISO 1629

  • PTFE

Operating Temperature

  • -30°C to +200°C (depending upon elastomer core)

Hardness Range

  • 70 to 85 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent chemical resistance
  • Easy of cleaning
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Low friction
  • Cost effective

Disadvantages

  • Some limitation on seal profiles
  • Higher sealing force required than standard elastomer seals

Typical Use

  • Chemical processing equipment, valves, chemical transport, pump diaphragms

Polyurethane

ISO 1629

  • AU / EU

Operating Temperature

  • -35°C to +80°C

Hardness Range

  • 35 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent tear and abrasion resistance
  • Good resistance to oils
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Good low temperature properties

Disadvantages

  • Poor steam resistance
  • Poor acid resistance

Typical Use

  • Products requiring good weather resistance, flame retardant products

Polychloroprene rubber (Neoprene®)

ISO 1629

  • CR

Operating Temperature

  • -30°C to +100°C

Hardness Range

  • 40 to 90 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good oil resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Good tear and abrasion resistance
  • Good flame resistance
  • Good acid resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor resistance to compression set
  • Poor steam resistance
  • Poor fuel resistance

Typical Use

  • Products requiring good weather resistance, seals for refrigeration

Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM)

ISO 1629

  • FFKM

Operating Temperature

  • -30°C to +330°C

Hardness Range

  • 65 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent high temperature properties
  • Excellent chemical resistance
  • Excellent oil resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • Some grades have poor low temperature properties
  • Material cost

Typical Use

  • Chemical processing equipment, valves, aerospace, motorsport & semiconductor applications

Nitrile

ISO 1629

  • NBR

Operating Temperature

  • -25°C to +100°C

Hardness Range

  • 40 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good resistance to oils and non-polar solvents
  • Good resistance to compression set
  • Good abrasion resistance
  • Good resistance to acids

Disadvantages

  • Poor ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Poor steam resistance

Typical Use

  • Oil resistant automotive, marine and aerospace applications. Rollers

Natural rubber

ISO 1629

  • NR

Operating Temperature

  • -45°C to +75°C

Hardness Range

  • 30 to 90 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent resistance to abrasion & resilience properties
  • High tear strength & good compression set resistance
  • Very good low temperature properties
  • Strong bonding to metal

Disadvantages

  • Poor oil resistance
  • Poor ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Poor resistance to steam

Typical Use

  • Food seals, rubber to metal bonded items, rollers

Hydrogenated Nitrile

ISO 1629

  • HNBR

Operating Temperature

  • -25°C to +150°C

Hardness Range

  • 50 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent abrasion resistance
  • Good resistance to oils
  • Good ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Good resistance to fuels

Disadvantages

  • Reduced low temperature performance compared to standard nitrile
  • Poor steam resistance

Typical Use

  • 'O' rings for oil & gas applications, packers, water stop seals

Fluorosilicone

ISO 1629

  • FVMQ

Operating Temperature

  • -60°C to +200°C

Hardness Range

  • 25 to 90 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good high temperature properties
  • Excellent low temperature properties
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Excellent oil resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor tensile strength & abrasion resistance
  • High gas permeability

Typical Use

  • Medical applications, seals for aviation fuels

Fluoroelastomer (Very low temperature)

ISO 1629

  • FKM

Operating Temperature

  • -40°C to +200°C

Hardness Range

  • 60 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good high & low temperature properties
  • Good resistance to acids and bases
  • Excellent oil resistance
  • Good methanol resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • Lower chemical resistance than other high fluorine FKM grades
  • More expensive than other FKM grades

Typical Use

  • Seals, gaskets & 'O' rings for chemical processing, oil & fuel applications where low temperature operation is a critical requirement

Fluoroelastomer (Type III)

ISO 1629

  • FKM

Operating Temperature

  • -25°C to +200°C

Hardness Range

  • 60 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good high temperature properties
  • Improved low temperature properties
  • Excellent oil resistance
  • Good steam resistance
  • Good methanol resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • More expensive than other FKM grades

Typical Use

  • Seals, gaskets & 'O' rings for chemical processing, oil & fuel applications

Fluoroelastomer (Type II)

ISO 1629

  • FKM

Operating Temperature

  • -10°C to +200°C

Hardness Range

  • 50 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good high temperature properties
  • Excellent oil resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor low temperature properties
  • Poor steam resistance
  • Limited methanol resistance

Typical Use

  • Seals, gaskets & 'O' rings for chemical processing, oil & fuel applications

Fluoroelastomer (Type I)

ISO 1629

  • FKM

Operating Temperature

  • -10°C to +200°C

Hardness Range

  • 50 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Good high temperature properties
  • Excellent oil resistance
  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor low temperature properties
  • Poor steam resistance
  • Poor methanol resistance

Typical Use

  • General purpose seals for automotive & aerospace fuel applications

EPDM

ISO 1629

  • EPDM

Operating Temperature

  • -50°C to +150°C

Hardness Range

  • 40 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Good resistance to compression set
  • Excellent tear and abrasion resistance
  • Excellent steam resistance
  • Good resistance to acids

Disadvantages

  • Poor resistance to oils and non-polar solvents
  • Poor fuel resistance

Typical Use

  • 'O' rings, automotive cooling systems, window & glove box seals for nuclear applications, products required good weather resistance

Chlorosulphonated rubber (CSM)

ISO 1629

  • CSM

Operating Temperature

  • -40°C to +85°C

Hardness Range

  • 40 to 95 IRHD

Advantages

  • Excellent ozone and sunlight resistance
  • Good resistance to oils
  • Good resistance to acids
  • Good abrasion resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor resistance to fuels
  • Poor steam resistance

Typical Use

  • Products required good weather resistance, flame retardant products, rollers

Butyl

ISO 1629

  • IIR

Operating Temperature

  • -40°C to +120°C

Hardness Range

  • 40 to 90 IRHD

Advantages

  • Low gas permeation
  • Excellent water resistance
  • Good resistance to acids
  • Good resistance to bases
  • Good damping properties
  • Good weather & sunlight resistance

Disadvantages

  • Poor oil resistance
  • Poor fuel resistance

Typical Use

  • Inner tubes for tyres, bladders and protective

Contact Our Engineers

For further information, please contact one of our technical experts today, and we will be pleased to offer advice and guidance on the most effective polymer type for your application.

Contact Our Engineers

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