Nitrile Rubber Gaskets and Seals

Nitrile rubber is a synthetic elastomer produced from acrylonitrile and butadiene and is commonly referred to as NBR or Buna-N.

It is particularly valued for its resistance to petroleum-based oils, lubricants, greases and many fuels, making it one of the most widely used rubber materials for industrial sealing applications.

Nitrile rubber combines flexibility and compressibility with excellent resistance to oils and many hydrocarbon-based fluids.

When compressed between mating surfaces, a nitrile gasket can conform to small surface variations and provide an effective seal whilst retaining useful mechanical strength and abrasion resistance.

Yes. Excellent resistance to petroleum-based oils, lubricants and greases is one of the principal advantages of nitrile rubber.

This makes nitrile gaskets particularly suitable for machinery, engines, hydraulic systems, pumps, gearboxes and other equipment where regular contact with oil is expected.

Nitrile rubber provides very good resistance to many petroleum-based fuels and is widely used in fuel-handling applications.

Compatibility can vary according to the particular nitrile compound, fuel composition, temperature and exposure conditions, so demanding or safety-critical applications should be assessed individually.

Standard nitrile rubber sheet can typically be used over a temperature range of approximately -30°C to +110°C, although the precise limits depend upon the compound, fluid being sealed and application conditions.

Specialist nitrile formulations can provide different low- or high-temperature capabilities, so material selection should take account of the complete operating environment.

Nitrile provides useful resistance to a variety of oils, fuels, greases and hydrocarbon-based chemicals, together with many general industrial fluids.

It is not universally chemically resistant, however, and compatibility varies according to the particular chemical, concentration, temperature and nitrile formulation. Specialist applications should therefore be checked before material selection.

Nitrile can be used outdoors in some applications, but its resistance to ozone, UV radiation and prolonged weather exposure is generally lower than that of EPDM.

Where a gasket will be continuously exposed to sunlight, ozone or demanding outdoor conditions, EPDM or another weather-resistant elastomer may provide better long-term performance.

Nitrile rubber is particularly suited to applications involving petroleum-based oils, fuels, greases and hydrocarbons.

EPDM provides much better resistance to weathering, ozone, UV exposure, water and steam, but is generally unsuitable for petroleum oils and hydrocarbon fuels. The correct choice therefore depends largely upon the fluids and environmental conditions involved.

Nitrile generally provides superior resistance to petroleum-based oils and fuels, making it particularly suitable for machinery and fluid-handling applications.

Neoprene offers a more balanced combination of moderate oil resistance and better weathering and ozone resistance. The most suitable material depends upon whether fluid resistance or environmental exposure is the dominant requirement.

Yes. Bluemay Weston can supply many nitrile rubber gaskets and seals with self-adhesive backing where required.

The adhesive can assist with accurate positioning during assembly and retain the gasket before final compression or fixing.

Yes. Bluemay Weston manufactures bespoke nitrile rubber gaskets and seals to customer drawings, dimensions, samples and specifications.

Components can be produced in simple circular and rectangular formats as well as complex profiles incorporating apertures, fixing holes, slots and other features.

Bluemay Weston manufactures nitrile rubber gaskets and seals from sheet material using precision punching and water jet cutting techniques.

Punching provides an efficient manufacturing method for repeat production quantities, whilst water jet cutting is particularly useful for prototypes, lower-volume production, larger components and intricate profiles where dedicated tooling may not be appropriate.

Bluemay Weston can manufacture nitrile rubber gaskets and seals in quantities ranging from prototypes and small development batches through to high-volume production runs of many thousands or millions of components, depending on component size, material specification and customer requirements.