Rubber Abrasion Resistance and the Tensile Strength of Rubber

One of the most important qualities of rubber is its durability. People often think of rubber as being a more elastic type of material and tend to overlook the fact that some sheet rubber products out there are very durable. Rubber sheet and roll products are often used because they provide a good mix between durability and elasticity. A durable elastomer is one that a very good resistance to physical abrasions. Rubber abrasion resistance, and the overall resilience of rubber in general, has a lot to do with the specific tensile strength that a rubber possesses. If you are looking for a tough rubber material, it is always a good idea to know what its tensile strength is.

All this may bring up one crucial question to mind: what exactly does “Tensile Strength” mean? How does it relate to rubber abrasion resistance? In order to gain a better understanding of what the terms abrasion, tear resistance, and durability mean, we must first define what the tensile strength of rubber is and how it affects the other components. Tensile strength refers to the maximum amount of force a material can take before it fails. The rating of a material’s level of tensile strength is decided through the object’s ability to handle the maximum amount of stress put on it without breaking, tearing, or failing. This is measured through the pressure unit of PSI (pounds per square inch) or MPa (megapascals). It basically determines the overall resilience of rubber. The level of rubber abrasion resistance is directly related to the elastomer’s tensile strength.

The PSI levels of a sheet rubber will affect its cost and its performance. Rubber rolls with higher PSI levels sometimes tend to be more costly in price than those rubbers with lower levels. If an increased level of rubber abrasion resistance is required, it can sometimes mean that the possibility of shelling out more money also increases. For instance, snowplow blades are tough rubber items that can be offered with a high rating of 2000 PSI or with a low rating of 725 PSI. The 725 PSI product is considerably more affordable than the 2000 PSI but also offers less overall wear resistance. Keep in mind that the rubber used in both products is durable but the higher tensile strength of rubber means that it offers more protection that those rubbers that have a low tensile strength rating. This range of options helps a customer decide which product, cost, and durability will be best for their situation. A simple home-owned snowplow might be better with the more affordable and cost-effective 725 PSI while the county-owned snowplow might go for the more expensive and resilient 2000 PSI product.

Rubber abrasion resistance is crucial to have in any type of application. You never know when something may make hard physical contact with the rubber piece. Physical abrasions can come in a huge variety of different forms. In a home gym setting, the resilience of rubber will be tested by the sheer weight and motion of the workout equipment and machines in the area. The same applies to industrial areas where the presence of heavy machinery is almost always a given. A tough rubber part with high abrasion resistance will also be able to keep its form without being deformed or indented by hard physical objects. The snowplow blades are a great example of rubber abrasion resistant products.

Ultimately, the tensile strength of rubber products affects their abrasion, tear, and impact resistance. It is always a good idea to ask what exactly the tensile strength or PSI rating is on a particular piece of rubber. The higher the PSI or MPa levels, the better the rubber abrasion resistance and durability of the material. The resilience of rubber is everything—its determining factor of what application it can be used for and what functions it can perform.