Natural Rubber

What is Natural Rubber: A Tough, Reliable Rubber Part Solution
If you need a rubber material that is tough and wear-resistant for applications that require high physical properties, then natural rubber gaskets, O-rings, seals, shock mounts, and other parts may be your best choice.

Natural rubber is a polymer that occurs naturally. With its exceptional elasticity, resilience, and shock-absorbing properties, natural rubber provides tough, reliable components for a wide range of physically demanding applications. From heavy industrial machinery in the mining and construction industries, to critical components in the automotive and aerospace sectors, such as tires and suspension systems, to important infrastructure elements such as bridge bearings and pipeline seals, natural rubber plays a vital role.

What Does Natural Rubber Made Of?
Natural rubber is a polymer material derived from the latex of certain plants. It's primarily derived from the latex sap of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). This sap is harvested through tapping, where incisions are made in the tree's bark. We get it by making cuts in the tree's bark, which lets out a milky liquid called latex. This latex is collected and made solid by adding acids, like vinegar or formic acid. Once it's solid, the rubber is cleaned, dried, and shaped into things like sheets or blocks. Commonly used in the manufacture of automotive tires, rubber bands, and other industrial parts, as well as a variety of products from shock absorbers to pad components

From a chemical point of view, Natural rubber, NR, composed primarily of isoprene units forming a highly unsaturated linear polymer, exhibits unique physical and chemical characteristics, including high elasticity for significant stretching and precise reversion, excellent tensile strength to withstand pulling forces, remarkable resilience for effective deformation recovery, and outstanding tear resistance, collectively enabling it to endure diverse mechanical stresses across various applications. While natural rubber has many advantages, it can be susceptible to degradation from exposure to ozone and certain chemicals. Because of this, synthetic rubbers have been developed to replace natural rubber in many applications.

Natural Rubber Properties
Common Name: Natural Rubber, NR
Chemical Definition: cis-1,4-polyisoprene
Temperature Range:

Low Temperature Usage: -76°F to -22°F | -60°C to -30°C
High Temperature Usage: Up to 176°F | Up to 80°C

Tensile Strength:
Tensile Range: 500-4,000 P.S.I.
Elongation: Up to 800%
Durometer (Hardness) – Range: 30-90 Shore A
Resistances:

Aging Weather - Sunlight: Poor
Abrasion Resistance: Excellent
Tear Resistance: Excellent
Solvent Resistance: Fair
Oil Resistance: Poor

General Characteristics:

Adhesion to Metals: Excellent
Compression Set: Good
Gas Permeability: moderate
Electrical Properties: Good insulator
Dynamic Properties: Excellent
Resilience: Very High
Hysteresis: Low
Processing: Easy to process
Cost: relatively low
Natural Variation: properties will vary depending on the source of the latex.

Natural Rubber Applications
Thanks to its exceptional elasticity, resilience, and high tensile strength, Natural rubber is used in a wide variety of markets. Common industries and applications include:
Automotive:

Tire treads and sidewalls
Suspension bushings and mounts
Engine mounts and vibration isolators
Hoses for coolant and air systems
Shock-absorbing parts
Bushings and gaskets
Weather stripping and seals

Industrial:

Conveyor belts for material handling
Industrial hoses for abrasive slurries and liquids
Seals and gaskets for heavy machinery
Rollers for printing and paper industries
Anti-vibration mountings for machinery

Medical:

Surgical gloves and medical tubing
Rubber stoppers for pharmaceutical containers
Elastic bandages and compression supports
Catheters and medical devices
Prosthetic components

Mining:

Lining for ball mills and crushers
Hoses for slurry transport
Truck bed liners for abrasion resistance
Conveyor belts for ore transport
Seals and gaskets for mining equipment

Aerospace:

Seals and gaskets for aircraft components
Vibration isolators for avionics
Hoses for fluid transfer systems
Shock absorption components

Natural Rubber Advantages and Benefits

Exceptional Flexibility and Elasticity
High Tensile Strength and Tear Resistance
Excellent Abrasion Resistance
Superior Dynamic Properties
Good Adhesion to Metals: Forms strong bonds with a variety of materials, particularly metals, through vulcanization.
Excels at absorbing and dampening vibrations and shocks, minimizing noise, and preventing damage in heavy-duty applications.
Provides excellent dampening over a broad temperature range.
Maintains flexibility and elasticity in cold environments, unlike many synthetic rubbers that become brittle.
Processing Versatility: Natural rubber is easily processed through various methods, including molding, extrusion, and calendering, allowing for diverse product designs.

ZYXrubber: Your Go-To Manufacturer of Natural Rubber Parts
Guangdong Zhongxiang New Materials Co., Ltd is a specialist in engineering and manufacturing high-performance components from Natural Rubber (NR). Celebrated for its exceptional mechanical properties, natural rubber remains the material of choice for applications demanding superior elasticity, tear resistance, and dynamic performance. We fabricate a wide range of natural rubber components, such as anti-vibration mounts & bushings, rubber dampers, wear-resistant liners & pads, elastic seals, etc.
Manufacturing capacity ability
Custom-Molded Parts
Extruded Profiles
Sheet Rubber
Sponge Rubber
Adhesive back Rubber
We expertly mold and bond NR to create complex, durable parts. Custom compounding is available to ensure your parts meet the required specifications for strength and dynamic performance. Our custom products are widely used in rail transit, auto parts, system windows and doors, new energy, electrical equipment, electrical appliances, lighting, and other applications. Contact our material specialists today to discuss if natural rubber is the right solution for your application. Request a quote for your custom parts.

Custom Natural Rubber Products

Natural rubber offers exceptional elasticity, resilience, and tensile strength, ideal for wear resistance and shock absorption. With a decade of experience, we can fabricate natural rubber components tailored to your unique applications.

Natural Rubber