What is Nitrile / NBR Rubber?

What is Nitrile / NBR Rubber?

So, what distinguishes Nitrile Rubber (NBR) from other materials?

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Nitrile rubber, often referred to as NBR, Buna-N, or acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, is a synthetic copolymer formed from the combination of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene.

The unique physical and chemical attributes of NBR can vary based on its specific polymer composition. This synthetic rubber exhibits remarkable resistance to oils, fuels, and various chemicals. Generally, a higher concentration of nitrile in the polymer enhances its oil resistance, albeit at the expense of flexibility.

Due to its properties, nitrile has become the predominant elastomer utilized in the sealing industry. It plays a crucial role in sectors such as automotive and aeronautics, where it's instrumental in producing fuel and oil handling hoses, seals, grommets, and self-sealing fuel tanks—tasks that typical rubbers can't handle. NBR's impressive ability to endure a broad temperature range of -40 to 108 °C (-40 to 226 °F) renders it particularly suitable for aeronautical applications. The versatility of nitrile butadiene extends to molded goods, footwear, adhesives, sealants, sponges, expanded foams, and floor mats. Among its diverse applications, nitrile rubber is commonly found in disposable non-latex gloves, automotive transmission belts, hoses, O-rings, gaskets, oil seals, V belts, both static and dynamic hydraulic seals, synthetic leather, printer's form rollers, and as cable jacketing. Moreover, NBR latex is also a suitable ingredient for making adhesives and acting as a pigment binder.

Typical applications: Aircraft fuel systems, automotive fuel systems, off-road equipment, and marine fuel systems.

Nitrile's durability also makes it a preferred choice for disposable lab, cleaning, and examination gloves. Compared to natural rubber, nitrile rubber shows greater resistance to oils and acids, along with enhanced strength, though it does exhibit reduced flexibility. As a result, nitrile gloves are generally more puncture-resistant than those made from natural rubber, particularly in scenarios where the latter might weaken due to exposure to chemicals or ozone. Furthermore, nitrile rubber is less likely to trigger allergic reactions when compared to its natural counterpart. Unlike polymers designed for ingestion, where minor inconsistencies in chemical composition can significantly impact the human body, the overall characteristics of NBR remain stable despite slight variations in structure or composition.

Nitrile can also be specially formulated to comply with International Food Standards, including FDA 21.177 and (EC): BfR XXI.

The pros and cons of nitrile rubber, NBR or Buna-N

Category: Rubber moulding, Technical Features

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Nitrile, Buna-N, or NBR rubber stands out as one of the most commonly used elastomers, primarily due to its exceptional oil and fuel resistant characteristics, along with its impressive tensile strength. In this article, we dive deeper into the various properties, applications, and pros and cons associated with this adaptable rubber material. Nitrile rubber consists of a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene, more widely recognized under trade names such as Nipol, Krynac, and Europrene N. What makes nitrile an ideal choice for numerous applications? Let’s explore its properties more closely.

What is Buna-N?

Nitrile, also referred to as NBR rubber or Buna-N, is the most utilized and cost-effective elastomer in the sealing industry. This can be attributed to its outstanding resistance against petroleum-based oils, fuels, water, alcohols, silicone greases, and hydraulic fluids. Additionally, it boasts a well-rounded combination of beneficial working characteristics like low compression set, high abrasion resistance, and notable tensile strength.

NBR rubber properties

Nitrile belongs to a category of unsaturated copolymers formed from the combination of 2-propenenitrile and butadiene monomers (1,2-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene). Its physical and chemical traits can vary based on the specific nitrile composition. With more nitrile present, the polymer demonstrates enhanced oil resistance but reduced flexibility. Nitrile rubber also outperforms natural rubber in terms of resistance to oils and acids, presenting superior strength while sacrificing some flexibility.

Where is nitrile used?

Nitrile rubber finds application across a wide array of products such as O-rings, gaskets, oil seals, automotive transmission belts, hoses, V belts, synthetic leather, disposable non-latex gloves, printer’s form rollers, and cable jacketing. Other uses include incorporating NBR latex in the manufacturing of adhesives or as a pigment binder.

Pros and cons of Buna-N

Nitrile offers several benefits:

• Excellent abrasion resistance.
• Good rebound properties.
• Good tear resistance.
• Effective non-polar solvent resistance.
• Strong water resistance.
• Superior oil resistance.
• Less expensive than fluoroelastomers.

Nitrile presents the following challenges:

• Marginal resistance to ozone, sunlight, and weather conditions.
• Limited ability to withstand high temperatures.
• Poor flame resistance.

Nitrile rubber products from Martin's Rubber

If you're interested in learning more, connect with our experts today to discuss our nitrile rubber manufacturing capabilities. We can walk you through your options and provide reliable guidance to help you choose the perfect product for your specific application. Reach out to us today for more information on the widespread use of nitrile rubber in heat resistance by exploring our post: Why Buna N is so popular for use with hydrocarbons.

Are you interested in learning more about Nitrile rubber NBR? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!