Santoprene sheet is a type of thermoplastic material with high-performance capabilities and Santoprene sheet material is a cross-linked chain of EPDM rubber and polypropylene. Santoprene rubber is generally known for its flexibility, durability and low compression set. However, in order to truly understand the composition of this material and all its benefits, it is important to comprehend what thermoplastic means and how it is different from other kinds rubber. Let us see what makes Santoprene rubber special.
Silicone CG Blue – 50A
First off, Santoprene sheet is a combination of plastic and rubber. Plastic is a flexible material, yet fragile; while rubber is a durable substance, yet firm. Essentially, this thermoplastic material takes the positive qualities of both plastic and rubber (flexibility and durability) and combines it into a bendable, slightly stretchy and durable material. With the mixture of plastic and rubber components, Santoprene has the same processing ease of thermoplastics. The processing ease of thermoplastics enables a rubber sheet or mat to be handled as an elastomer, but produced as plastic. This is one of the reasons why manufacturers will typically produce Santoprene in the same way they do plastic. The end result is a material that can be used in many of the same applications as other elastomers, while still maintaining its flexibility. In addition, Santoprene rubber is also recyclable.
Silicone CG Blue – 50A
- Excellent fungus resistance
- Can be exposed to UV and ozone
- Commercial grade silicone sheet with a smooth texture
- Custom fabrication into seals and gaskets available upon request
- Blue colored silicone is not a common color sheet good and can serve to identify parts based on their material makeup
Low Durometer Silicone: With a durometer rating of 50 Shore A, this silicone elastomer favors physical flexibility over durability. It is meant to be used in applications that call for more pliability from the rubber parts used in them. Thanks to the low durometer rating, this commercial grade silicone is easier to cut, manipulate, and fabricate than those of a higher durometer.
Chemical Resistance: In addition to being able to resist extreme temperature conditions, this silicone sheet material has a moderate degree of chemical resistance. This feature comes in handy in case this elastomer is being used in a laboratory setting or other areas with the presence of chemicals. Some examples of the chemicals that this low durometer silicone can endure are solutions of ammonia gas, acetic acid, vinegar, sodium sulfate, and more.
What makes Santoprene sheet different from other products is the cross-linking bond in its structures. Unlike thermoset rubbers, which sound similar, thermoplastics are developed in a different way and have a contrasting structure. If we were to take a microscope and zoom in on thermoplastic rubber, we would see that the bond is weaker than the cross-linking bond compared to other elastomers. Thermoplastic materials uses a dipole (or hydrogen bond) instead of a covalent bond used in other materials. Despite the weaker cross-linking bonds in thermoplastics, they still display a high-performance in the applications that they are used in.
Santoprene rubber is very similar to plastic because it is reusable and can be recycled, which also allows it to be remanufactured. Since it contains plastic, Santoprene sheet can be easily molded and does not require stabilizing and/or compounding when reused. An additional characteristic of Santoprene and other types of thermoplastic materials is that they are can be stretched, yet returned to their original shape. This material can also be melted at high degrees and withstand transient temperatures up to 150 Celsius (300 F) and continuous temperatures up to 135 Celsius (275 F) per SAE J2236. The burn rate of this material is considered slow, thus meeting the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302. Furthermore, Santoprene will not deform under stress. These qualities define and distinguish thermoplastics from other natural and synthetic rubbers.
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.
Thermoplastic materials (or rubber) possess excellent resistance to many chemicals, as well as, exceptional ozone and weathering resistance. This material also has fluid resistance similar to polychloroprene for aqueous-based fluids, oils and hydrocarbons. With these advantages, Santoprene rubber is a reliable product for numerous applications. Applications include (but not limited too): appliance components, automotive applications, consumer applications, diaphragms, electrical parts, gaskets and seats. Additionally, this material meets many ASTM specifications, including many automotive specs. For example, this product has been used in the following automotive brands: Chrysler, Delphi, Ford and Valeo.
In regards to bonding and decorating, like other polyolefins, Santoprene is a stubborn material for bonding and decorating. Adhesives, tapes and coating do not adhere to this material because they do not have the surface tension needed to wet Santoprene. Surface tensions must be lower than 28 dyne/cm in order for materials to comply with this thermoplastic materials. Also, because of its polyolefin base, Santoprene is an absolutely recyclable product. Moreover, because it is produced from fully recycled/reclaimed rubber, this material can also be remanufactured without deforming.
Due to its various benefits and unique composition, this product is a smart option for a multitude of applications, especially in automotive functions like under the hood. This thermoplastic materials is chemical, fatigue, ozone and weathering resistant, making it a great rubber product with awesome capabilities. Thermoplastics combine two unlike things, plastic and rubber. Although these are two opposite materials, the end result is a thermoplastic material with great beneficial properties.
Santoprene – 60A
- Slow burn rate
- Low compression and tension set
- Also available in a blocked surface texture option
- Thermoplastic material stocked in popular gauges
- Continuous Temperature Range: -50° F to 275° F
Intermittent Temperature Range: -74° F to 300° F - Santoprene rubber is polyolefin based and completely recyclable
Great for Automotive Use: One simply has to consider the performance virtues of this thermoplastic material when considering a type of sheet rubber for use in automotive applications. It is already a physically durable material to begin with. However, this high quality synthetic rubber also features other characteristics that make it ideal for the harsh requirements of automotive use. Firstly, Santoprene sheets exhibit a great resistance to the oils and greases commonly found in automotive settings. Secondly, it has the ability to perform in temperatures that go up to 300° F. With these great characteristics, Santoprene rubber is meant for use in the auto industry.
Can Operate in Outdoor Conditions: The Santoprene thermoplastic elastomer is unique in the fact that it can function well in outdoor conditions. UV rays and ozone are a regular presence in the outdoors. They can often damage various other rubber products over time by causing cracks to form on the material surfaces. These Santoprene sheets will not suffer from that problem. This is largely due to the EPDM material used to make them. This quality synthetic rubber can be used in the outdoors fully exposed to UV rays and other weather conditions.
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