With over 45-year experience in the rubber industry, LeeKuma often receives inquiries from customers on how to choose the right rubber. Understanding the temperature environment and the fluids (oil/solvent/acid-base) the parts will contact is crucial. Based on customer needs, suitable materials can be recommended.
For example, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) is suitable for ozone resistance, nitrile rubber (NBR) is commonly used for oil transportation, natural rubber (NR) is the first choice for high tensile strength and wear resistance, and fluorocarbon rubber (FKM/FPM/VITON) is suitable for high-temperature and acid-base resistance, though it is more expensive.
However, no material can withstand all environments, so material selection is relative and not absolute.
Therefore, LeeKuma uses ASTM and JIS standards, considering basic physical properties such as hardness, elongation, tensile strength, and specific gravity as the primary criteria for material selection. Further, tests like aging resistance, compression set, oil resistance, ozone resistance, and low-temperature resistance, involving different temperatures and durations, are conducted to compare changes in hardness, elongation, tearing, and volume to predict the physical performance of the material-made parts. This helps provide the most suitable materials for customers.
LeeKuma has a professional laboratory that can provide complete physical property reports, and the R&D team can also develop rubber formulations for special needs.
For example, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) is suitable for ozone resistance, nitrile rubber (NBR) is commonly used for oil transportation, natural rubber (NR) is the first choice for high tensile strength and wear resistance, and fluorocarbon rubber (FKM/FPM/VITON) is suitable for high-temperature and acid-base resistance, though it is more expensive.
However, no material can withstand all environments, so material selection is relative and not absolute.
Therefore, LeeKuma uses ASTM and JIS standards, considering basic physical properties such as hardness, elongation, tensile strength, and specific gravity as the primary criteria for material selection. Further, tests like aging resistance, compression set, oil resistance, ozone resistance, and low-temperature resistance, involving different temperatures and durations, are conducted to compare changes in hardness, elongation, tearing, and volume to predict the physical performance of the material-made parts. This helps provide the most suitable materials for customers.
LeeKuma has a professional laboratory that can provide complete physical property reports, and the R&D team can also develop rubber formulations for special needs.