Rubber Material Guide

Find the best rubber material to use for a given application as it applies to the finishing / coating industry and masking projects.

In the 20th century, synthetic products were developed as a means to have rubber-like properties while adding improved characteristics that natural rubber lacked. These other rubber-like materials are advantageous to use for certain situations, such as their contact with certain liquids like acids or hydrocarbons, high temperature resistance or abrasion to name a few.

The charts below show important information about the best rubber material to use for a given application as it applies to the use of masking plugs and caps in powder coating, anodizing, plating, painting, ecoating and other finishing applications. Check out the typical rubber materials Viadon both stocks (Silicone / EPDM) and can have made (Neoprene) and compare how they very often outperform natural rubber.

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Temperature Range

Temperature	Silicone	EPDM	Neoprene	Natural Rubber
Maximum Intermittent (°F)	600	350	305	195
Maximum Continuous (°F)	410	250	210	175
Minimum (°F)	-75	-60	-40	-40

Mechanical Properties

Property	Silicone	EPDM	Neoprene	Natural Rubber
Hardness Range (Shore A)	30-80	40-85	40-85	40-85
Elongation	300	350	400	600

Resistance Characteristics

Property	Silicone	EPDM	Neoprene	Natural Rubber
Abrasion	Poor	Good	Good	Excellent
Compression Set	Good	Good	Fair/Good	Good
Tear	Poor	Fair/Good	Good	Good/Very Good
Flame	Good	Poor	Very Good	Poor
Gas Permeability	Low	Low	Low	Fairly Low
Electrical Insulation	Excellent	Excellent	Fair/Good	Good/Very Good
Acids (Diluted)	Good	Very Good	Good	Fair to Good
Acids (Concentrated)	Fair	Very Good	Good	Fair to Good
Aliphatic Solvents	Poor	Poor	Fair to Good	Poor
Aromatic Hydrocarbons	Poor	Poor	Fair	Poor
Ketones, etc.	Fair	Good/Very Good	Poor	Fair
Oil and gasoline	Fair	Poor	Fair	Poor
Animal / Vegetable Oils	Good	Good	Good	Fair
Water	Good	Excellent	Good	Very Good
Ozone	Excellent	Excellent	Very Good	Poor
Oxidation	Excellent	Very Good	Very Good	Fair
Weathering	Excellent	Excellent	Very Good	Fair