Hard rubber and high durometer rubber display many of the same characteristics. You could be forgiven for thinking that the terms are interchangeable. While it is true that they share very similar features, there is a specific technical distinction that separates tough rubber from the term “Shore A” rubber. The purpose of this writing is to inform you of the key features that shore a rubber determine specific rubber hardness with the definition of durometer.
First, let us deal with the term “durometer”. Specifically, durometer is the material’s ability to resist permanent physical indentation. It is a unit of measurement that is commonly used in the rubber industry to determine this type of physical resistance. One of the most common types of durometer ratings of a specific rubber is the Shore A classification. The exact Shore A rubber ratings will vary from rubber to rubber, but they generally come from 20 to 90. Generally speaking, the lower the durometer rating, the more flexible and less resistant to permanent indentation a rubber will be. The converse of this is true as the rating goes up in scale.
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 70A
Essentially, durometer is only a term used to measure the exact degree to how hard and tough rubber materials can be. When people talk about a hard rubber, they are more likely generalizing about the rubber’s durability. They are not specifically referring to the exact level of how durable the product is. Instead, all they know is that the rubber is tough and durable. In such a case, they are more than likely referring to a high durometer rubber.
Hardness is more of a general umbrella term that encompasses a variety of different components. In addition to measuring the resistance against indentation, or durometer, it also refers to the measure of how resilient an elastomer is to fracture or deformation from sharp objects. It can also take into account the elasticity of a specific hard rubber product. Elasticity determines the relative rebound an object would retain after having an object dropped on it. In short, rubber hardness is not only about indentation, but also refers to how difficult the material is to cut and how it reacts to other factors. Hard rubber, while generally of a higher durometer and more difficult to compress, could at times be less difficult to cut.
Neoprene – CG – 60A – 72″ Wide
Neoprene – CG – 60A – 72″ Wide
- Tasks that require flexible materials
- Industrial gasket, bumper, or sealing applications
- Projects that would be better served with wider sheets
- Industrial applications that involve oils, chemicals, ozone
- Applications that involve temperatures between -20° F and 212° F
72” Wide Sheet: This black neoprene sheet is specifically made to be 72” wide. The reason for this is because the standard 36” or 48” wide sheet rolls cannot satisfy the requirements of every application. We make 72” wide sheets of neoprene available so that you do not have to order too many materials for your job. It will help make sure that you have more to work with at a lower cost, minimizing the chances of you being stuck with unused leftover material. A standard roll of 72” wide flexible neoprene is well suited for large-scale industrial applications.
Good Resistance: The oil and chemical resistance of neoprene is in very popular with consumers. Being a synthetic elastomer, it comes with good resistance characteristics against some oils and chemicals. This feature comes in handy for industrial applications that see the presence of abrasive oils and chemicals. As a bumper, pad, or gasket, neoprene is well suited to performing in the presence of such hazards. It also possesses a good level of resistance against ozone.
With this in mind, asking about the durometer and elasticity of a tough rubber material would be much more informative then asking if the rubber is simply “hard”. Similarly, high and low durometer rubber ratings should not be used interchangeably with a material’s resistance to scratches, abrasion, or wear and should not be used alone for material design specifications. There is a strong correlation between rubber hardness and Shore A rubber durometer, but they are not the same exact thing. It is recommended to try to not refer to them as the same concept.
With these distinctions in mind, it is important to note the similarities. Hard rubber and high durometer rubber share enough features that can lead to people confusing them for being interchangeable. They are both resistant to flexure, both are resilient to change when an outside force is applied, and both oppose deformation of their physical structure. However, as mentioned earlier, a high durometer rubber and a hard rubber use different measurements to define and determine the range between high and low durometer and hard and soft.
Next time you are in the market for a durable and tough rubber material, go beyond asking for a simple hard rubber. Instead, look for information regarding the elastomer’s durometer rating, its level of elasticity, how easy it is to cut, and other details along those lines. By asking for those specific details, you can get the best hard rubber and high durometer rubber for your intended application.
Skirtboard – SBR Rubber – 70A – 1500 PSI
Skirtboard – SBR Rubber – 70A – 1500 PSI
- Blended with natural gum rubber
- Operates in temperatures between -20° F and 212° F
- Good resistance to certain chemicals, but not meant for use with oils
- Available in a large assortment of thickness and widths
Variety of Gauges: Our Skirtboard rubber material comes in a variety of different thickness gauges so that you can have the right part for your application. We offer gauges that range from 1/8” to 2” thick upon request. The thickness of a skirting rubber part can correlate with its durability and effectiveness. Therefore, the thicker the material, the more long-lasting the rubber part will be.
Meant for Tough Jobs: Skirtboard rubber is meant for tough jobs that involve a lot of physical abrasions. The SBR rubber used to make the material provides for the enhanced durability that makes it so popular. This thick rubber material is well suited for use as conveyor skirting, belt wipers, blast curtains, bumpers, and street sweeper and snowplow blades. All of these applications involve rough physical conditions that could damage machines. This type of hard rubber is the perfect material to handle such jobs and protect the overall integrity of the application.
