Which type of rubber is best for my application?
There are a range of natural and synthetic rubbers with different properties, making some more suitable than others for particular applications - the key of course is choosing the most appropriate one! For quick reference you can use the table provided in our download section, titled ‘Rubber Types at a Glance’. For specific requirements, please ask our rubber products specialists for guidance.

What are the coefficient ratios I need to be aware of?
The two key ratios are Coefficient of Friction and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion. The first (friction) indicates the force needed to move an elastomer over a given surface versus the total forces pressing on the elastomers and surface. The latter (thermal expansion) shows the ratio of the original length versus the change in length as a result of temperature variation.

What does ‘hystersis’ mean?
This is the term used to describe the build up of heat in an elastomer sample caused by rapid deformation.

How exactly is ‘rebound resilience’ measured?
Quite simply, a metal ball of a particular size and weight is dropped from a given height onto an elastomer sample. The rebound resilience figure is an indication of how much the ball actually bounced.