Temperature and media compatibility are the most important parameters to be considered when selecting a rubber base, and normally a compromise must be made. Please note the following:

• Exceeding the temperature rating for the rubber compound leads to a shortened life span.
• Practically all elastomers suffer a physical or chemical change when in contact with a medium.
• An aggressive medium becomes more active with increasing temperature.
• Physical changes occur by either the compound absorbing a medium or it dissolves a medium resulting in volume swell or shrinkage.

On the next page is a guide to the more commonly used materials with a short description of their main characteristics. If you click on any of these, a more detailed information sheet can be found.