Rules of Thumb

The Essential Guide to Rubber Engineering Terms

Happy group of engineering students with their teacher writing on the board

Here at Apple Rubber, we want to encourage the next generation of rubber engineers to start learning and innovating as soon as possible. Getting a handle on some of the jargon our experts use on a daily basis is a great way to start. That’s why our engineering team curated this helpful list of some of the terms we use most frequently. Whether you’re an aspiring engineer, need a refresher, or you’re just curious about our industry, get caught up on the terminology you need to know.

Autoclave

A pressure cooker-like machine used to expose materials to high pressure and temperature. Steam pressure autoclaves are often used for rubber vulcanization.

ASTM International

Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, this organization develops international standards for many materials, products, systems, and services.

Bond

The mechanical or chemical force that holds an elastomer to another object. 

Bloom

A bloom occurs when an incompatible liquid or solid migrates to the surface of rubber, often changing the surface’s appearance.

Brittleness

The likelihood of a material to crack under stress at low temperatures.

Carbon Black

This material is essentially elemental carbon in the form of fine particles. Carbon black is one of the fillers commonly used in rubber production as a pigment or reinforcement

Cold Resistant

When a material is still elastic able to fully function when exposed to low temperatures.

Compound 

An elastomeric material created by combining several chemicals.

Compression Set

A very common cause of o-ring seal failure. Compression set is when an elastomeric material doesn’t return to its original size after being compressed for a long time.

Copolymer

A polymer made of two different monomers.

Cure

Also known as vulcanization, curing is a process which changes a rubber compound’s chemical structure. Curing gives rubber compounds improved elasticity, resilience, strength, hardness, and weather resistance.

Deflash

Removing excess material (known as flash) from a finished product.

Durometer

An instrument used to measure the indentation hardness of rubber.

Dynamic Seal

A seal between a moving and stationary surface.

Elasticity

A material’s ability to return to its original shape after being manipulated or compressed.

Elastomer

A term describing natural and synthetic polymers that have the ability to return to their original shape after being distorted.

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration is a U.S. government agency that regulates ingredients used in food and medical applications.

Fillers

Fillers can be used to improve consistency, durability, and performance in rubber products. Carbon Black is the most commonly used reinforcing filler in rubber production. Silica, talc and clay are other common fillers.

Flex Resistance

The ability of an elastomeric product to withstand stress from constant bending.

Flash

Excess rubber around a molded part.

Friction

A force which resists objects in motion.

Gasket

A stationary sealing device.

Gland

The cavity where a seal is installed.

Groove

The glandular recess into which the seal is fitted.

Hardness

The ability of rubbers to resist indentation. A durometer is used to measure hardness.

Hermetic Seal

An airtight seal.

Injection Press

This machine injects molten rubber into a mold, creating a three dimensional object.

ISO

Short for the International Organization for Standardization, the ISO standardizes quality assurance in design, development, production, installation, and servicing.

Latex

Latex refers to any polymer in a water-based liquid or viscous state. The natural form of latex is a milky sap produced by a variety of rubber trees. This latex is the base substance used to produce Natural Rubber products. Synthetic latex is commonly used in dipping and spray applications.

Life Test

A laboratory test of product resistance used to compare the performance capabilities of different product designs.

Memory (elastic)

The ability of an elastomeric material to return to its original size and shape after being distorted or deformed.

Modulus

The force in psi required to lengthen a material (usually to 100% elongation).

Mold

A device typically made from steel that is used to create and shape a product inside its cavity.

Mold Finish

The surface roughness of a  mold which determines the surface quality of a finished molded product.

Nominal Dimension

The mean dimension of a molded product, allowing for some leeway in standard measurement.

O-Ring

A doughnut-shaped object that functions as a seal for liquids or gases. Apple Rubber is a trusted producer of high-quality o-rings.

Outgassing

When the volatile components of some rubber compounds become vaporized in a vacuum and are released (outgassed) into its environment.

Oxidation

A reaction between oxygen and a rubber compound that typically results in cracks on a rubber material’s surface.

Ozone Resistance

The ability of vulcanized rubber to resist cracking and physical deterioration from exposure to ozone.

Permeability

The rate of gas flowing through a rubber material.

Polymer

A long molecular chain formed when many similar chemicals combine.

Post Cure

The second step in the vulcanization of certain elastomers, post cure is used to get rid of the leftover decomposition from initial vulcanization.

Radial Seal 

Compression applied perpendicularly to the centerline of a seal.

Rubber

A common name for naturally occurring and synthetically created elastomers.

Seal

Any device used to prevent the passage of fluids or fine particles.

Shore A Hardness

A durometer reading of rubber hardness as measured on a Shore A gauge. This is measured on a scale of 0-100, with higher numbers indicating greater hardness.

Static Seal 

A gasket type application where the seal is contained within two non-moving gland walls.

Strain

Deformation resulting from applied force (stress).

Stress

Force applied to a material.

Swell

An increase in seal volume caused by exposure to oils, fluids, heat, and so on.

Temperature Range

The minimum and maximum limits of temperatures for effective seal performance.

Tensile Strength

How much force a compound can withstand while being stretched before reaching its breaking point.

Thermal Expansion

Expansion caused by an increase in temperature.

Torque

A turning or twisting force.

Torsional Strength

The ability of a seal to withstand being damaged by twisting.

Under-Cure

Where rubber has not been cured enough it is under-cured, meaning that it will exhibit poor physical properties and high compression set.

Viscosity

Resistance to flow.

Voids

Empty spaces or pockets where there should be none.

Vulcanization

Not a Star Trek reference, vulcanization is a heat-based process of converting basic visco-elastic liquids into durable molded rubber products. This term has the same meaning as cure.

Weathering

The tendency of the surfaces of some o-rings to crack when exposed to ozone and or certain pollutants.

Would you like to learn more about engineering jargon?

Get in touch with one of Apple Rubber’s experts!