Overmolding Techniques: Solving Adhesion Issues between LSR and Thermoplastics.
Overmolding Techniques: Solving Adhesion Issues between LSR and Thermoplastics.
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.
245 articles
Hardness Measurement: Shore A vs. Shore D - When to Switch?
Hardness Measurement: Shore A vs. Shore D - When to Switch?
Vulcanization Kinetics: How Cure Speed Impacts Batch-to-Batch Consistency.
Vulcanization Kinetics: How Cure Speed Impacts Batch-to-Batch Consistency.
Chemical Resistance Chart: A Guide to Polar vs. Non-Polar Solvents.
Chemical Resistance Chart: A Guide to Polar vs. Non-Polar Solvents.
Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) Pricing: Analyzing the Supply Chain of High-Performance Polymers.
Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) Pricing: Analyzing the Supply Chain of High-Performance Polymers.
Conductive Silicone: Shielding Effectiveness (EMI) in 5G Infrastructure.
Conductive Silicone: Shielding Effectiveness (EMI) in 5G Infrastructure.
The Role of Acrylonitrile Content in NBR: Balancing Low-Temp Flex vs. Oil Swelling.
The Role of Acrylonitrile Content in NBR: Balancing Low-Temp Flex vs. Oil Swelling.
EPDM in Steam Systems: Molecular Stability and Service Life Predictions.
EPDM in Steam Systems: Molecular Stability and Service Life Predictions.
Quality
Compound Traceability: How to Make Sure Your 2030 PPAP File Reproduces Your 2026 Part
The PPAP submission documents your production-released compound, mold, and process. But when a service replacement is needed five years later, can your supplier reproduce that exact compound? For most rubber suppliers, the honest answer is no — the formulation has drifted, the trader has changed, or the mixing process has evolved. Compound traceability over years is structural, not procedural. Here is how to specify it before tooling release.
Semiconductor
Single-Line A-Mixing for Semiconductor FFKM: Why Cross-Contamination Tolerance is Near-Zero
Semiconductor process sealing applications — particularly aggressive plasma etch chambers, ALD/CVD environments, and high-purity gas delivery lines — have near-zero tolerance for compound contamination. A multi-product mixing line that processes high-carbon-black or peroxide-cured compounds today cannot guarantee that tomorrow's FFKM batch is clean. This article explains why single-line A-mixing with sequence-ordered scheduling is the structural answer, and what to verify when sourcing FFKM for semiconductor manufacturing.
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.