The Properties of Elastomers

At Ames, we know that choosing the right elastomer can make or break a product’s performance. That’s why this elastomer property chart is a roadmap for engineers, manufacturers, and innovators who need rubber compounds that stand up to real-world demands.

Each elastomer has its own unique strengths, whether it’s silicone’s ability to handle extreme heat, nitrile’s resistance to oils, or EPDM’s toughness against weather and ozone. By comparing these properties side by side, this elastomer chart helps you quickly match the right material to your application, saving time, reducing risk, and ensuring reliability in the field.

From industrial rollers to medical components and beyond, understanding elastomer performance is essential to building products that last.

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	Tensile Strength^*:						Resistance To:								Solvent Resistance:		Resistance To:
Switch Columns and Rows	Pure Gum (PSI)	Black Loaded Stocks (PSI)	Hardness Range (SHORE A)	Specific Gravity (BASE MATERIAL)	Tear Resistance	Abrasive Resistance	Compression Set	Rebound: Cold	Rebound: Hot	Dielectric Strength	Electrical Insulation	Permeability To Gases	Acid: Dilute	Acid: Concentrated	Aliphatic Hydrocarbons	Swelling in Lubricating Oil	Oil And Gasoline	Animal And Vegetable Oils	Water Absorption	Oxidation	Ozone	Sunlight Aging	Heat Aging	Flame	Heat	Cold	Major Attributes**	Relative Cost (SBR = $1)	ASTM D-2000 Classification
Polyisoprene i Polyisoprene is a synthetic version of natural rubber, made by polymerizing isoprene monomers. It closely mimics the properties of natural rubber, offering excellent elasticity and resilience.	Over 3000	Over 3000	20-90+	0.93																							Resilience	1.00	AA
SBR i SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber) is a synthetic rubber made by copolymerizing styrene and butadiene. It’s widely used in tires and footwear due to its good abrasion resistance and aging stability.	Below 1000	Over 2000	40-90+	0.94																							General Purpose	1.00	AA
Butyl i Butyl (IIR – Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber) rubber is produced by copolymerizing isobutylene with a small amount of isoprene. It has exceptional air and gas impermeability, making it ideal for inner tubes and sealing applications.	Over 1500	Over 2000	40-75	0.92																							Air Retention	1.25	AA
EPDM i EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a synthetic rubber made from ethylene, propylene, and a diene component. It offers excellent resistance to weathering, ozone, and UV, making it popular in roofing and automotive seals.	Below 1000	Over 3000	30-90	0.86																							General Purpose	2.00	DA
Neoprene i Neoprene (Polychloroprene) is a synthetic rubber made by polymerizing chloroprene. It has good chemical stability and flexibility over a wide temperature range, used in wetsuits, hoses, and gaskets.	Over 3000	Over 3000	10-95	1.23																							Oil & Gas Resistance, Weatherability	2.20	BC
Butadiene Acrylonitrile i Butadiene Acrylonitrile (Nitrile Rubber / NBR) is made by copolymerizing butadiene and acrylonitrile. It is known for its excellent resistance to oils, fuels, and other chemicals, making it ideal for seals and fuel lines.	Below 1000	Over 2000	20-90+	1.00																							Oil Resistance	2.00	BG
Silicone i Silicone (Polysiloxane) rubber is made from siloxane polymers. It remains flexible at extreme temperatures and resists UV and weathering, making it suitable for medical, automotive, and cooking applications.	Below 1500		10-80	1.1 to 1.6																							Heat Resistance	10.00	GE/FE
FluoroElastomer i Fluoroelastomers (e.g., Viton) are made from fluorinated hydrocarbons. They provide outstanding resistance to heat, chemicals, and fuels, commonly used in aerospace and chemical processing.	Over 2000	Over 2000	60-80	1.85																							Heat Resistance, Excellent Solvent Resistance	35.00	HK
Hypalon i Hypalon (Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene - CSM) is a synthetic rubber made by chlorosulfonating polyethylene. It has excellent resistance to chemicals, UV, and ozone, often used in roofing membranes and inflatable boats.	Over 2500	Over 3000	40-75	1.12 to 1.28																							Color Retention, Weatherability, Ozone Resistance	2.20	CE
Urethane Rubber i Urethane (Polyurethane Elastomer) rubber is formed by reacting diisocyanates with polyols. It combines the elasticity of rubber with the toughness of plastic, offering high abrasion and tear resistance.	Over 4000		Cast 10A - 80D Gum 40-90A	1.06	Cast Gum	Cast Gum													70°F 212°F								Abrasion Resistance, Load Bearing Characteristics	8.00	BG
Acrylic i Acrylic (ACM) rubber is made from acrylate monomers. It provides good resistance to hot oil and oxidation, often used in automotive transmission and gasket applications.		Over 2000	40-80	1.09																							Color Stability, Heat & Oil Resistance	3.50	DF
Epichlorohydrin i Epichlorohydrin (ECO) rubber is made by polymerizing epichlorohydrin. It features good fuel and oil resistance, low gas permeability, and is used in automotive fuel systems and seals.		Over 2000	40-80	1.36 to 1.27																							Heat, Oil, Ozone Resistance	3.50	DK
Polysulfide i Polysulfide rubber is synthesized by the reaction of organic dihalides with sodium polysulfide. It offers excellent chemical and fuel resistance and is used in sealants, especially in aerospace.	Below 1500	Below 1500	50-70	1.25																							Superior Oil Resistance	5.50	AK

Switch Columns and Rows	Polyisoprene i Polyisoprene is a synthetic version of natural rubber, made by polymerizing isoprene monomers. It closely mimics the properties of natural rubber, offering excellent elasticity and resilience.	SBR i SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber) is a synthetic rubber made by copolymerizing styrene and butadiene. It’s widely used in tires and footwear due to its good abrasion resistance and aging stability.	Butyl i Butyl (IIR – Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber) rubber is produced by copolymerizing isobutylene with a small amount of isoprene. It has exceptional air and gas impermeability, making it ideal for inner tubes and sealing applications.	EPDM i EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a synthetic rubber made from ethylene, propylene, and a diene component. It offers excellent resistance to weathering, ozone, and UV, making it popular in roofing and automotive seals.	Neoprene i Neoprene (Polychloroprene) is a synthetic rubber made by polymerizing chloroprene. It has good chemical stability and flexibility over a wide temperature range, used in wetsuits, hoses, and gaskets.	Butadiene Acrylonitrile i Butadiene Acrylonitrile (Nitrile Rubber / NBR) is made by copolymerizing butadiene and acrylonitrile. It is known for its excellent resistance to oils, fuels, and other chemicals, making it ideal for seals and fuel lines.	Silicone i Silicone (Polysiloxane) rubber is made from siloxane polymers. It remains flexible at extreme temperatures and resists UV and weathering, making it suitable for medical, automotive, and cooking applications.	FluoroElastomer i Fluoroelastomers (e.g., Viton) are made from fluorinated hydrocarbons. They provide outstanding resistance to heat, chemicals, and fuels, commonly used in aerospace and chemical processing.	Hypalon i Hypalon (Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene - CSM) is a synthetic rubber made by chlorosulfonating polyethylene. It has excellent resistance to chemicals, UV, and ozone, often used in roofing membranes and inflatable boats.	Urethane Rubber i Urethane (Polyurethane Elastomer) rubber is formed by reacting diisocyanates with polyols. It combines the elasticity of rubber with the toughness of plastic, offering high abrasion and tear resistance.	Acrylic i Acrylic (ACM) rubber is made from acrylate monomers. It provides good resistance to hot oil and oxidation, often used in automotive transmission and gasket applications.	Epichlorohydrin i Epichlorohydrin (ECO) rubber is made by polymerizing epichlorohydrin. It features good fuel and oil resistance, low gas permeability, and is used in automotive fuel systems and seals.	Polysulfide i Polysulfide rubber is synthesized by the reaction of organic dihalides with sodium polysulfide. It offers excellent chemical and fuel resistance and is used in sealants, especially in aerospace.
Pure Gum (PSI)	Over 3000	Below 1000	Over 1500	Below 1000	Over 3000	Below 1000	Below 1500	Over 2000	Over 2500	Over 4000			Below 1500
Black Loaded Stocks (PSI)	Over 3000	Over 2000	Over 2000	Over 3000	Over 3000	Over 2000		Over 2000	Over 3000		Over 2000	Over 2000	Below 1500
Hardness Range (SHORE A)	20-90+	40-90+	40-75	30-90	10-95	20-90+	10-80	60-80	40-75	Cast 10A - 80D Gum 40-90A	40-80	40-80	50-70
Specific Gravity (BASE MATERIAL)	0.93	0.94	0.92	0.86	1.23	1.00	1.1 to 1.6	1.85	1.12 to 1.28	1.06	1.09	1.36 to 1.27	1.25
Tear Resistance										Cast Gum
Abrasive Resistance										Cast Gum
Compression Set
Rebound: Cold
Rebound: Hot
Dielectric Strength
Electrical Insulation
Permeability To Gases
Acid: Dilute
Acid: Concentrated
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
Swelling in Lubricating Oil
Oil And Gasoline
Animal And Vegetable Oils
Water Absorption										70°F 212°F
Oxidation
Ozone
Sunlight Aging
Heat Aging
Flame
Heat
Cold
Major Attributes**	Resilience	General Purpose	Air Retention	General Purpose	Oil & Gas Resistance, Weatherability	Oil Resistance	Heat Resistance	Heat Resistance, Excellent Solvent Resistance	Color Retention, Weatherability, Ozone Resistance	Abrasion Resistance, Load Bearing Characteristics	Color Stability, Heat & Oil Resistance	Heat, Oil, Ozone Resistance	Superior Oil Resistance
Relative Cost (SBR = $1)	1.00	1.00	1.25	2.00	2.20	2.00	10.00	35.00	2.20	8.00	3.50	3.50	5.50
ASTM D-2000 Classification	AA	AA	AA	DA	BC	BG	GE/FE	HK	CE	BG	DF	DK	AK

Outstanding

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor