Rubber Component Guides and Application Notes

Explore material selection, manufacturing and testing questions for industrial rubber components. Find a relevant guide, then share your part requirements for a project-specific review.

2 articles

Compounding

What Is In-House Rubber Compounding (and Why 95% of Suppliers Don't Do It)

In-house rubber compounding means the supplier mixes the raw rubber compound from polymer, fillers, curing agents, and plasticizers — rather than buying pre-mixed compound stock from a trader. Roughly 95% of rubber molders are L1 (molding-only) operations that have no compound chemistry control. Understanding this tier distinction is the single most important thing an engineer can know when evaluating rubber suppliers.
Compounding

HNBR vs FKM for EV Thermal Management Hoses: A Compound Selection Guide

HNBR and FKM are the two dominant elastomer families for EV thermal management sealing — but they are not interchangeable. HNBR is the right default for cost-sensitive, sustained-heat plus glycol-coolant service up to 160°C. FKM is the right choice for higher temperatures, broader fluid resistance, or aggressive dielectric environments. This guide explains where each family wins, where compound formulation overrides family selection, and how to specify both for procurement.
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