What is hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber?
Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) is a synthetic rubber copolymer used in the manufacturing of rubber seals. It is created from nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) by a process of hydrogenating unsaturated bonds in the butadiene units of the polymer. Typically, HNBR rings come in black, though we can custom-make these rings in other colors as per your requirements.
Depending on the level of hydrogenation of the butadiene copolymer and the acrylonitrile content, HNBR will exhibit different properties. In most cases, however, HNBR presents more benefits than nitrile rubber. The hydrogenation of the polymeric chain means that HNBR benefits from improved resistance and strength, in addition to a large number of other benefits. These benefits include:
- An increased temperature resistance range of -40°C to +150°C, with short term excursions to 170°C
- High chemical resistance
- Resistance to oils, such as crude oil, and modern fuels
- Excellent tensile and tear strength
- Imperviousness to ozone and sunlight
- High resistance to abrasion
- Excellent dynamic behavior in high temperatures
- Low permeability to volatiles and gases.
- Resistance to many varieties of modern fuels
- Resistance to high energy radiation.
- Low noise and vibration transmission.
- Low compression set, even at high temperatures.
All of these noteworthy properties make it ideal for use in various applications, which we detail below.
What are hydrogenated nitrile rubber seals used for?
HNBR is used in various applications due to its high resistance against various environmental factors. You will typically find HNBR in O-rings for oil and gas applications, packers, and water stop seals. In terms of industries specifically, HNBR seals are commonly used in automotive and industrial applications for their dependability and durability against extreme conditions.
An additional reason for their common usage within these industries is due to their resistance to substances often found within these applications. For instance, hydrogenated nitrile rubber seals are easily able to withstand continued contact with engine fuel, coolant, and oil, as well as various other harsh substances used in industrial contexts.
In automotive and industrial systems, you can typically find HNBR used in the production of these components:
Automotive
- Seals in contact with oils.
- Anti Vibration (AV) mounts.
- Suspension seals.
- A/C seals and hoses.
- Fuel system seals and hoses.
- Engine seals, grommets, and gaskets.
Industrial
- Rotary shaft seals.
- Oil field packers.
- Blow‐out preventers.
- Heat exchanger gaskets.
- Chevron seals.
- Paper mill rolls.
It is important to note, however, that HNBR seals are not suitable for use within electrical or flammable environments unless they are specifically formulated for that application, as HNBR polymer has poor resistance to both. They are also not recommended for use with esters, ketones, or chlorinated hydrocarbons.
If you are looking for seals that are compatible with the above-mentioned substances, we recommend using FKM or FFKM rubber seals. We are specialists in the production of FKM and FFKM rubber seals, with custom-molded rubber seals and high-temperature O-rings available to be produced to your required specifications.
Hydrogenated nitrile rubber seals at Linde Polymer
At Linde Polymer, we use HNBR in the production of our O-rings to provide you with unparalleled, reliable performance for your application. In addition to HNBR, there are many types of polymer that we produce our O-rings from, allowing you to choose the ideal polymer for your system.
With custom colors, metal detectability, and certifications including FDA, Linde Polymer can provide you with high-performance O-rings specifically designed for your application, so be sure to get in touch with an inquiry.
For more information on our products and how Linde can assist your business, please contact us. Our technical team is ready to provide expert advice and solutions tailored to your needs.
