Sponge Rubber
Sponge Rubber Strip
Advanced Seals & Gaskets Ltd offer an excellent in-house conversion and cutting service. Using high-quality materials and state of the art machinery, we can offer strips cut from a range of materials including various types and grades of sponge rubber. Sponge rubber strips are just one of 1000’s products we are able to offer, working closely with our customers to produce the strips to match their required specifications, drawings or samples. Sponge rubber strips are all made to order, manufactured using one of our many machines including band saws, strippers, log cutters and even presses depending upon the size and quantity required – for very small strips in high volume runs, a kiss-cut option may also be available for faster production and time efficiency for the end-user. In-house production allows us to closely oversee the whole production process to ensure that we consistently produce high quality, competitively priced strips. ASG stock a range of sponge rubber materials in a block, sheet or roll form in a number of thicknesses ensuring strips can be produced within a minimum timeframe and allowing us to manufacture them with a range of finishes including foils, self-adhesives or laminated with other materials.
What Are Sponge Rubber Strips?
Strips are pieces of material often cut to a specific width and length as requested by our customers, in some cases available as continuous rolls/coils to be cut as when needed by the end-user, often used in a similar way to a gasket placed between two surfaces to create a seal, provide cushioning or insulation. We stock a range of sponge rubber materials each with its own unique set of properties ensuring a quick turnaround of strip orders.
Why use Sponge Rubber Gaskets?
Sponge rubber gaskets are used to fill gaps and irregularities between 2 surfaces and to provide a solution to unwanted rattles, noise, vibrations, to seal against air, gas, dust and liquids, and can also be used to cushion between moving parts to reduce friction and damage to components and equipment. In order for a gasket to work effectively, it needs to compress and fill the entire space to create a pressure/airtight protective seal. Different types of sponge rubber gaskets have their own unique set of characteristics and properties for use in various applications, some are suitable for outdoor use and UV/Ozone exposure, others have oil resistance or are flame retardant. Gaskets are an important part found in many applications and industries such as electrical equipment, automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, chemical industries and food/drink/pharmaceutical processing industries.
Different Grades
There are different types and grades of sponge rubber used to manufacture gaskets for use within many industries each with its own unique characteristics. Sponge Rubber Gaskets provide effective vibration control as well as sealing properties when sandwiched between two mating surfaces. Popular types of sponge rubber include:
EPDM sponge rubber is a high-quality material with excellent weathering, UV and ozone resistance, making it ideal for outdoor seating. EPDM sponge rubber gaskets offer a wide operating temperature range, acoustic, thermal and vibration dampening properties and also good mechanical strength and abrasion-resistant properties. Grades of EPDM include medium, firm, high temp and semi-open cell.
Neoprene sponge rubber is a versatile material, featuring good resilience and resistance to UV and ozone. It has a working temperature range of -40ºc to +115ºc, good chemical stability, and good general resistance to oils and petroleum-based fuels.
Silicone sponge is a resilient material with high-temperature stability, chemically inert and waterproof. Silicone sponge is a closed-cell, available in a range of densities (firmness) it has a number of features that make it suitable for outdoor sealing including Ozone, UV resistance and temperature flexibility, meaning it will not freeze/crack.
Viton sponge is another closed-cell variety of sponge rubber offered by ASG. It is manufactured with skin on both faces which increases its tear resistance. It has a wide working temperature range of -25°C to +204°C and good resistance to hydrocarbons, oils, fuels, lubricants, acids, weathering and ozone.
PVC Nitrile sponge is a closed-cell, very soft type, manufactured with smooth skin on both faces. This sponge rubber is often the preferred choice for use within thermal insulation applications due to its Class O flame retardant characteristics.
Poron sponge is closed-cell polyurethane sponge rubber, which offers excellent compression resistance, good chemical resistance and longevity. These gaskets are low out-gassing, non-fogging and will not become brittle and break down over time.
Industrial sponge rubber is a high quality, open-cell natural sponge rubber. The open cell structure enables excellent compression recovery, but also to form around uneven surfaces, limited absorption and circulation of gas and liquids if required. It is an excellent choice of material for us as a protective sponge, expansion joints and anti-vibration applications.
Benefits of Sponge Rubber Gaskets
Depending on the type and grade of sponge rubber taken, the material will offer a whole host of properties and benefits, some of which include:
Sound/vibration Suppression
Thermal Properties
Bonded with other materials based on application
Oils, chemical, acid, fuel resistance
Ozone, weathering, UV resistance
Wide working temperature range