Finding the most appropriate elastomer for an application isn’t as simple as choosing a rubber sheet colored white, red or black. Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and other elastomers each present their own set of characteristics and abilities to the table; thus, it’s vital to be aware of both an elastomer’s traits and the demands of an application in order to form an effective and lasting pairing.

NBR nitrile rubber, like styrene-butadiene rubber and other synthetic elastomers (elastic polymers), was a product of research that took place during two world wars. A group of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, given the name Buna N, was patented in 1934 by German chemists Erich Konrad and Eduard Tschunkur, working for IG Farben. A few years later Buna N was produced in the United States during World War II as GR-N (Government Rubber-Nitrile), and subsequently the group of acrylonitrile-butadiene elastomers became known as nitrile rubber.

The first development of synthetic rubber materials was driven by the need to supplement the tight supply of natural rubber latex during World War I and World War II. The first commercial production of Acrylonitrile Butadiene (Nitrile) rubber was in 1930 and as mentioned earlier it was due to the war time demand for rubber parts. Like many other, the rubber industry and products like NBR nitrile rubber, would not be here today if it was not for the military needs.

NBR nitrile rubber is commonly used in automotive and aeronautical industries where the nitrile rubber rolls are valued for their resistance to oils and certain types of fuels. Offered only in colors white and black, nitrile won’t win any beauty pageants like some of the more visually pleasing elastomers (e.g. silicone), but it will perform when and where most rubbers wouldn’t dare show their “stretchy selves.” Check out how NBR compares with some other useful elastomers:

• NBR vs. natural rubber: At first glance the elastomers may seem like identical twins, they both possess superior physical properties including high tensile strength, low compression set and good abrasion resistance. NBR and natural rubber even share the same lesser commitment to UV rays, ozone and excessive heat. That is simply not the use these rubbers are chosen for! The crucial difference between the two would be NBR’s resistance to oils, grease and some fuels which makes them more like fraternal twins.

• NBR nitrile rubber vs. chloroprene: As far as oil-resistant elastomers go, NBR nitrile rubber and chloroprene (CR, neoprene) are the few and the proud. No other elastomers can maintain their stability when exposed to oil, grease and fuel. In regards to other properties, CR outperforms NBR is nearly every way and boasts of a highly valued resistance to ozone. But, don’t count NBR out; it does have a lower compression set and, generally, a lower price tag.

• NBR nitrile rubber vs. styrene-butadiene rubber: SBR is the best synthetic elastomer to use in dynamic and abrasive conditions. Matched only by natural rubber, SBR will not easily wear away as a result of abrasions. In addition SBR is one of the lowest cost rubber products. NBR has a moderate resistance to abrasions. Need it be mentioned that NBR is oil-resistant? Well if you need a rubber product that will come into contact with petroleum by-products and will see constant abrasion, then SBR will not do and NBR nitrile rubber will have to be the choice.

• NBR vs. ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM): Of all synthetic and natural elastomers natural rubber, NBR, and SBR are the ones that would prefer to stay inside. When exposed to UV rays and ozone such elastomers dry out and become brittle, essentially making the material worthless. EPDM is one rubber that welcomes the sunshine and does not lose its integrity in outdoor conditions.

• NBR vs. silicone: Just as nitrile is regarded as the oil- and grease-resistant elastomer, silicone is widely known as the temperature-tolerant rubber. Despite this, it is common to find silicone and nitrile rubber rolls used for similar gasket and seal material. White nitrile and white silicone are both often used in food grade applications, silicone getting the nod when temperatures exceed 200 Fahrenheit.

• Why Nitrile is used in Gloves? Many studies have been conducted on natural rubber latex and vinyl, the traditional glove materials of the medical community. The most common studies investigate defect rates (durability) and the effects of fluid saturation. Other studies have gone so far as to suggest that defects in the film structure are larger than the size of a viral organism based upon the porous nature of natural rubber latex. Why are these studies so important? Industrial nitrile gloves are typically chosen to replace other forms of gloves for two main reasons. The first is nitrile's superior barrier properties to a wide range of chemicals. The second reason, no less important, is nitrile's durability. The superior performance of nitrile in fats and oils, as well as in water, should suggest its relevance for medical professionals.

Besides automotive applications, NBR nitrile rubber components can be found in food processing operations and industrial machinery. Although the elastomer possesses a rare resistance to oil, nitrile is still utilized for its physical and mechanical qualities that match those of many other elastomers.

Its resilience makes NBR nitrile rubber a useful material for disposable lab, cleaning, and food processing table covers. Nitrile rubber is more resistant than natural rubber to oils and acids, and has superior strength, but has inferior flexibility. Nitrile gloves are therefore more puncture-resistant than natural rubber gloves, especially if the latter are degraded by exposure to chemicals or ozone. NBR nitrile rubber is then less likely to cause an allergic reaction than natural rubber.

NBR nitrile rubber is generally resistant to aliphatic hydrocarbons. Nitrile, like natural rubber, can be attacked by ozone. Nitrile rubber, also known as Buna-N, Perbunan, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, and NBR, is a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene.