Rubber Gasket Materials: Which Is Right For Your Application
A flawless seal is only as good as the rubber gasket material you choose. Pick the wrong compound and you’ll fight leaks, premature failures, and spiralling maintenance costs. Select the right one and your equipment runs longer, safer, and more efficiently—often at a lower total cost. This guide breaks down the most common rubber gasket materials and offers practical tips for installation and upkeep.
In this article:
What Makes Rubber Gaskets so Critical?
Overview of Common Rubber Gasket Materials
Key Factors in Material Selection
Installation & Maintenance Best Practices
Find Your Ideal Rubber Gasket Material—Request Expert Help Now
What Makes Rubber Gaskets so Critical?
Rubber gaskets create a compressible barrier between two surfaces to block liquids, gases, or dust. In industrial equipment, they face:
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Repeated clamping pressure and vibration
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Wide temperature swings
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Chemical attack from fuels, coolants, cleaning agents
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Ozone, UV, steam, or abrasive media
Because no single elastomer resists every hazard, engineers and OEMs have to zero-in on the rubber gasket material that best fits both the environment and the budget.
Overview of Common Rubber Gasket Materials
|
Material |
Temp Range (°C) |
Key Strengths |
Typical Weaknesses |
Frequent Uses |
|
EPDM |
–50 → +150 |
Steam, UV, ozone, water |
Swells in oils & fuels |
HVAC flanges, potable-water seals, outdoor enclosures |
|
Nitrile (Buna-N) |
–30 → +120 |
Fuel & oil resistance, abrasion |
Poor UV/ozone durability |
Fuel pumps, hydraulics, compressors |
|
Neoprene (CR) |
–40 → +120 |
Weather, moderate chemicals, flame-retardant grades avail. |
Limited high-aromatic fuel resistance |
Refrigeration gaskets, marine hatches, rooftop units |
|
Natural Rubber |
–55 → +95 |
High tensile strength, flex-fatigue |
Oils, solvents, heat > 95 °C |
Low-pressure water seals, isolation pads |
|
Silicone |
–60 → +200 |
Extreme temp range, FDA grades, inert |
Low tear strength, higher cost |
Food processing, medical, high-temp lighting |
|
Fluoroelastomer (FKM) |
–15 → +250 |
Aggressive chemicals & heat |
Higher price, limited low-temp flex |
Petrochem, aerospace, turbochargers |
View Our Rubber Sheets for Gaskets
Key Factors in Material Selection
Temperature & Media Exposure
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Max & continuous temps: match to compound rating, not just short-term spikes.
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Chemical contact: fuels? acids? glycols? Check ASTM D471 swell data.
Durometer (Hardness)
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Softer (40–60 Shore A) materials seal irregular flanges; harder (70–80 A) resist extrusion in high-pressure bolted joints.
Compression Set & Resilience
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A low compression-set rubber gasket material (< 15 %) rebounds after loads, keeping the joint tight during thermal cycling.
Regulatory Requirements
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FDA/NSF food-contact grades (EPDM, silicone)
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UL 157 for fire-retardant neoprene
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ASTM D2000 or SAE J200 call-outs for automotive specs
Total Cost of Ownership
A premium elastomer that lasts five years usually costs less than a budget gasket replaced every season—especially when downtime is figured in.
Installation & Maintenance Best Practices
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Surface Prep – Clean flange faces; remove rust and old adhesive.
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Correct Torque – Tighten bolts in a star pattern; follow supplier torque tables to avoid over-compression.
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Storage – Keep gaskets flat, away from direct sunlight, ozone-producing motors, or temps above 25 °C.
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Inspection Intervals – Check for hardening, cracks, or permanent set; replace at the first sign of degradation.
Proper handling ensures even the best rubber gasket materials reach their full design life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most chemical-resistant rubber gasket material?
Fluoroelastomer (FKM) or perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) excel in aggressive solvents, but EPDM tops the chart for water-based chemicals.
Can one rubber gasket work for both oil and outdoor UV?
No single compound is ideal for both extremes; consider nitrile for oil contact and add a UV-resistant cover—or choose a specialty blend.
Which rubber gasket material handles both hot water and glycol?
EPDM is the go-to for mixed water-glycol HVAC loops up to 150 °C.
Is nitrile safe for outdoor use?
Only in sheltered locations. Otherwise, ozone and UV cause premature cracking—EPDM or UV-stable neoprene is safer.
Find Your Ideal Rubber Gasket Material—Request Expert Help Now
Selecting the right rubber gasket material is the quickest way to slash downtime, improve safety, and control lifecycle costs. When making your choice for your design application, ensure you balance temperature, media, hardness, and compliance—then validate with real-world testing.
Need help finalizing specs or cutting custom profiles?
Our team will match the optimal rubber gasket material and size to your exact application—backed by fast prototypes and production-ready runs.
