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Carboxylated Nitrile Rubber

Carboxylated nitrile rubber, XNBR, is a high-performance, versatile type of nitrile. It has seen an explosion of popularity in recent years as it delivers improved tensile strength, resistance to abrasion, and resistance to oils. These traits make it an extremely effective choice for many manufacturers, but particularly automotive assemblies.

When you need custom parts manufactured from carboxylated nitrile rubber, you need REDCO. All services are completed in-house at our USA facility to ensure total quality is achieved at every stage of production. Call 775-882-3100 or contact us today to discuss your XNBR production.

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XNBR Properties

Carboxylated nitrile rubber is a synthetic elastomer. It differs from nitrile rubbers as the XNBR structure has been modified to introduce carboxyl groups into the polymer chain, resulting in a final material with better tensile strength, resistance to a variety of factors, and suitability for a broader range of industrial or commercial applications.

If carboxylated rubber is not the best fit for your planned production, REDCO offers an extensive range of rubber materials. Download our Properties of Rubber chart to discover other options for your project. For specialty applications, we provide custom rubber and elastomer compounding services.

Characteristics of XNBR Rubber for Custom Molded Rubber Parts

XNBR features many characteristics that make it beneficial for custom rubber productions. General carboxylated rubber properties offer:

Specific Gravity: 1.00
Tensile Strength, PSI—Pure Gum: 600
Tensile Strength, PSI—Reinforced: 4000
Practical Shore A Hardness Range: 50-95

Benefits of Carboxylated Nitrile Rubber

XNBR adds many advantages to your final product, particularly compared to similar parts manufactured from traditional nitrile. It offers an extended operational temperature range and resistance to R-11, R-12, and R-13 refrigerants. Other benefits include:

Excellent abrasion, heat, diluted acid, and moisture resistance
Excellent permeability
Excellent oil, gasoline, animal oil, and vegetable oil resistance
Good to Excellent solvent resistance to hydrocarbons
Good tear resistance
Good compression set
Good resistance to concentrated acid
Fair dielectric properties
Fair low temperature flexibility
Fair resistance to oxidation
Fair resilience at hot or room temperatures

Carboxylated Nitrile Rubber Limitations

Despite XNBR’s many advantages, it is not the best solution for every custom rubber manufacturing job. It has poor resistance to ozone, direct sunlight, UV rays, and weathering, making it unideal for outdoor applications or assemblies used in exposed environments. Carboxylated nitrile also shows a poor resistance to some substances:

Aromatic fuels
Glycol-based brake fluids
Polar solvents
Non-flammable hydraulic fluids (HFD)
Ketones
Esters
Aldehydes

If your planned use features exposure to any of these materials, then XNBR is not your best solution. Explore our other rubber materials as you navigate your options.

When to Use XNBR in Rubber Manufacturing Productions

XNBR is a strong choice for manufacturing jobs requiring a versatile rubber material that is resistant to a wide range of factors. It is most used to manufacture:

Automotive and transportation components
Oil and gas parts
Paper printing applications
General manufacturing jobs
Consumer goods, appliances, footwear, and more
Industrial rollers and roller covers
Seals, gaskets, and o-rings
And much more!

USA-Made XNBR Rubber Products Manufactured to Your Specifications

At REDCO, your complete satisfaction is our number one priority. We work hard to produce quality products on time, every time. All of our testing and development is carried out at our on-site developmental laboratory staffed with a full-time chemist. We work with you to understand the needs of your manufacturing production, recommending products and services that will enhance your final product. With over 70 years of rubber compounding and manufacturing experience, REDCO is ready to handle the requirements of any order.