Industry
Industrial Rubber Components
Industrial rubber applications span a wider range of chemical and thermal environments than almost any other sector. A hydraulic cylinder in a steel mill press operates with mineral oil at high pressure and elevated temperature. A pump seal in a chemical plant contacts concentrated acids at ambient temperature. A compressor diaphragm in a natural gas processing facility sees H2S, amines, and methane. A vibration mount under a 50-ton industrial press absorbs millions of load cycles. Each requires a different compound, designed for its specific failure mode.
Wayne Rubber manufactures custom rubber seals, gaskets, o-rings, vibration mounts, diaphragms, and wear components for industrial machinery and process equipment from Wixom, Michigan. Hydraulic sealing, chemical process sealing, fluid power, oil and gas, heavy equipment, and mill applications are all supported across a full range of elastomers from standard NBR through FFKM.
Application Categories
Industrial Rubber Applications by Engineering Discipline
Industrial rubber specifications are best approached by the engineering discipline driving the application rather than by product type. The compound requirements for a hydraulic cylinder seal are fundamentally different from those for a chemical reactor gasket, and both differ from a paper mill roll cover or a vibration isolation mount. Each discipline below represents a distinct compound selection context.
Hydraulics and Fluid Power
- Cylinder rod and piston seals: NBR for mineral hydraulic oil to 250°F; HNBR for sustained temperatures above 250°F; polyurethane for highest extrusion resistance under dynamic cycling
- Accumulator bladders: NBR for petroleum hydraulic fluid; EPDM for fire-resistant phosphate ester fluid (Skydrol-type)
- Hydraulic hose end seals: NBR o-rings for standard hydraulic fittings; FKM for synthetic ester-based hydraulic fluids
- Pump and valve seals: NBR or HNBR for standard mineral oil; FKM for hot oil above HNBR’s service limit or aggressive synthetic lubricants
- Pneumatic cylinder seals: NBR or polyurethane; low compression set critical for reliable air sealing under low pressures
- Water-glycol hydraulic systems: EPDM for fire-resistant water-glycol HF-type fluids; not NBR, which attacks in water-glycol environments
Chemical Processing
- Pump and valve seals for acids: FKM for most concentrated inorganic acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric) at elevated temperatures; EPDM for dilute alkalis and aqueous acid service
- Reactor vessel gaskets: FKM or FFKM for high-temperature aggressive organic chemistry; EPDM for aqueous caustic service
- Pipeline and flange gaskets: Compound selection driven entirely by the specific process fluid; one material family cannot cover all chemical plant piping
- Solvent service seals: FFKM for ketone, ester, and aggressive organic solvent service; no standard elastomer resists all organic solvents
- Steam and condensate seals: EPDM for saturated steam to 300°F; FFKM for superheated steam or combined steam and chemical exposure
- Caustic and amine systems: EPDM for sodium hydroxide; HNBR or FFKM for amine-inhibited oilfield and refinery streams
Oil, Gas, and Refining
- Wellhead seals and BOP components: HNBR for sour service (H2S); FKM for high-temperature sweet service; FFKM for combined severe H2S and temperature
- Downhole packer elements: HNBR or FKM depending on bottom-hole temperature and produced fluid chemistry; completion fluid compatibility must be verified
- Refinery pump and valve seals: FKM for process hydrocarbon streams above 300°F; NBR for ambient-temperature petroleum streams
- Gas compressor valve seals: NBR or HNBR for natural gas with light hydrocarbon liquids; FKM for sour gas with H2S content
- Pipeline pig seals and cups: Polyurethane for abrasive soil debris; NBR or HNBR for oil and gas product lines
- Tank farm and storage seals: NBR for petroleum product storage; FKM for aromatic solvent and chemical storage tank seals
Heavy Equipment and Machinery
- Excavator and crane hydraulic seals: NBR standard; HNBR for elevated-temperature circuits and outdoor ozone exposure on exposed cylinder rods
- Press and stamping machine seals: NBR or HNBR for hydraulic presses; FKM for die casting and forging press hydraulics operating above 300°F
- Conveyor drive and roller seals: NBR for oil-lubricated bearings; EPDM or neoprene for external-facing seals with outdoor exposure
- Mining and aggregate equipment: Polyurethane for maximum abrasion resistance in sand, gravel, and ore contact; neoprene for general equipment sealing
- Crusher and screen wear pads: Polyurethane for abrasive mineral contact where rubber would wear through quickly
- Compressor valve flaps: FKM or HNBR for hot compressed gas; NBR for ambient-temperature air and gas compression
Paper, Steel, and Mill Applications
- Paper mill press roll covers: Polyurethane for superior abrasion resistance under nip pressure and paper web contact; HNBR where chemical resistance to process chemicals is required
- Steel mill descaler seals: EPDM for high-pressure hot water descaling systems; FKM for rolling lubricant and cooling fluid contact
- Roll neck seals: NBR or HNBR for roll lubricant retention in strip steel and plate rolling applications
- Hydraulic mill seals: HNBR for the high-temperature, high-pressure hydraulic systems on modern rolling mills where NBR’s 250°F limit is routinely exceeded
- Pulp and chemical seals: FKM or FFKM for bleaching chemical (chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite) seal service in pulp mill bleach plants
- Calender and coating roll seals: Silicone for heated calender rolls in paper coating applications requiring release properties and high temperature
Vibration Isolation and NVH
- Machine isolation mounts: Natural rubber for lowest hysteresis and maximum energy return in high-cycle isolation; neoprene where oil splash or ozone is present
- Pipe hangers and clamp isolators: Neoprene or EPDM for outdoor pipe support applications requiring weather and UV resistance
- Generator and compressor mounts: Natural rubber bonded rubber-to-metal isolators for genset foundations; neoprene where oil or fuel contact is possible
- Anti-vibration pads and sheets: Natural rubber and SBR blends for floor isolation; neoprene for outdoor equipment pads with weather exposure
- Flexible couplings: Natural rubber or neoprene for drive shaft and pump coupling elements requiring torsional damping and misalignment accommodation
- Acoustic isolation pads: Natural rubber in bonded assemblies for noise and vibration attenuation in industrial buildings and equipment foundations
Compound Selection
Industrial Compound Selection by Fluid Environment
| Compound | Temp Range | Industrial Applications | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBR | -40°F to +250°F | Hydraulic cylinder seals (mineral oil), pump seals in standard petroleum service, pneumatic seals, oil-lubricated bearing seals, fuel system components below 250°F | Poor above 250°F; poor ozone and UV resistance for outdoor equipment; poor in water-glycol hydraulic fluids and ketone solvents |
| HNBR | -40°F to +300°F | High-temperature hydraulic seals, sour service oil and gas seals (H2S resistance), press hydraulics above 250°F, mill roll neck seals, compressor valve seals in elevated temperature service | Higher cost than NBR; not suitable for ketones, phosphate ester fluids, or temperatures above 300°F continuous |
| FKM | -15°F to +400°F | Refinery and chemical plant pump seals, hot oil service above HNBR’s limit, sour gas compressor seals, aggressive hydrocarbon solvent seals, die casting and forging press hydraulics | Poor at low temperatures (rigid below -15°F); poor against ketones, amines, and steam; higher cost than HNBR |
| EPDM | -65°F to +300°F | Steam and hot water system seals, caustic (NaOH) process seals, water-glycol hydraulic fluid (HF-type) accumulators and seals, outdoor equipment with no oil contact, dilute acid aqueous service | Poor petroleum oil resistance; never use in mineral hydraulic oil or fuel service; not suitable for concentrated acids |
| Urethane (AU/EU) | -65°F to +220°F | High-extrusion-resistance hydraulic rod and piston seals, mining and aggregate wear components, conveyor scraper blades, pipeline pig cups, abrasion-critical industrial wear parts | Poor above 220°F; hydrolysis above 140°F in wet service (use EU grades for water-adjacent); poor in ketones, strong bases, and steam |
| VMQ Silicone | -65°F to +450°F | High-temperature process equipment seals with no oil contact, heated calender roll seals in paper coating, electrical insulation seals in high-temperature environments, clean room and food-adjacent sealing | Very poor petroleum oil and solvent resistance; poor abrasion resistance; for dry or steam-only high-temperature locations |
| FFKM | -15°F to +600°F | Chemical reactor seals in ketone, amine, or superheated steam service where FKM fails; bleach plant pump seals in pulp mills; analytical instrument seals; supercritical fluid processing seals | Highest cost of any elastomer; higher compression set than FKM; specify only when FKM is genuinely inadequate for the specific chemical and temperature combination |
| Natural Rubber (NR) | -65°F to +180°F | Machine vibration isolation mounts, pipe hanger isolators, flexible drive couplings, acoustic isolation pads, heavy equipment isolation pads where oil contact is absent | Poor oil, fuel, and ozone resistance; for dry vibration isolation only; not for oil-wetted or outdoor UV/ozone-exposed locations |
Water-glycol hydraulic fluids (HF-C type) require EPDM, not NBR. Fire-resistant water-glycol hydraulic fluids are used in steel mills, die casting facilities, and other applications where petroleum hydraulic oil poses a fire risk. Standard NBR seals are incompatible with these fluids and will swell and lose mechanical integrity rapidly. EPDM is the correct compound for water-glycol HF-C type hydraulic systems. This is a frequent specification error when converting a system from petroleum to water-glycol fluid without changing the seal compound.
Upgrading from NBR to HNBR is the most common and cost-effective industrial seal improvement. Many industrial hydraulic systems running mineral oil operate hot enough that NBR seals show premature compression set and hardening on 12 to 18-month replacement intervals. Upgrading to HNBR at the next seal change extends the service interval significantly at a compound premium that is typically justified within one avoided unplanned shutdown. Wayne Rubber can provide direct HNBR replacements for standard NBR seal cross-sections without tooling changes.
Products
Industrial Rubber Products from Wayne Rubber
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Seals
NBR, HNBR, FKM, and polyurethane rod seals, piston seals, and wiper seals for industrial cylinder and fluid power applications
Industrial Flange Gaskets
FKM, EPDM, NBR, and silicone compression gaskets for chemical process piping, steam systems, and industrial equipment flanges
Industrial O-Rings
Full range of AS568, metric, and custom o-rings in all elastomers for hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical process, and fluid handling applications
Pump and Valve Diaphragms
FKM, EPDM, and HNBR diaphragms for metering pumps, control valves, pressure regulators, and accumulator bladders in chemical and hydraulic service
Machine Isolation Mounts
Natural rubber and neoprene bonded rubber-to-metal mounts for industrial machinery, generators, compressors, and process equipment vibration isolation
Wear Pads and Bumpers
Polyurethane and neoprene wear pads, chute liners, and impact bumpers for mining, aggregate, and heavy industrial equipment applications
Protective Boots and Bellows
Neoprene and EPDM protective boots for actuator rods, linear motion systems, and machine guarding in industrial environments
Industrial Bushings
Rubber-to-metal bonded bushings and pivot elements in natural rubber, neoprene, and polyurethane for machinery articulation and vibration isolation
Grommets and Sealing Elements
EPDM and neoprene grommets for cable and pipe penetrations through equipment enclosures, control cabinets, and machine housings
Materials
Industrial Elastomers at Wayne Rubber
NBR
Standard hydraulic oil sealing to 250°F. The baseline industrial petroleum seal compound.
HNBR
Hot oil, H2S sour service, and high-temperature hydraulics. The cost-effective NBR upgrade.
FKM
Refinery, chemical plant, and hot process service. Broadest resistance above HNBR’s limit.
FFKM
Ketones, amines, superheated steam, and bleach plant service where FKM fails.
EPDM
Steam, water-glycol hydraulics, caustic, and outdoor equipment. Not for oil contact.
Urethane
Highest abrasion resistance. Hydraulic rod seals, pipeline pigs, mining wear parts.
Silicone (VMQ)
High-temperature dry heat sealing to 450°F. Calender rolls, electrical enclosures, clean equipment.
Natural Rubber (NR)
Machine vibration isolation mounts. Lowest hysteresis, highest fatigue life in high-cycle applications.
Neoprene (CR)
Outdoor equipment seals, pipe hanger isolators, and general industrial components with UV/weather exposure.
Request Industrial Rubber Components from Wayne Rubber
Provide your part geometry or drawing, the fluid environment (oil type, process chemical, or steam), operating temperature, pressure, and production volume. Wayne Rubber will confirm the correct compound and quote.