Linatex

Overview

Linatex is a registered brand of Weir Group (formerly Linatex Limited) — a premium grade of natural rubber sheeting produced using a proprietary process that yields a material with significantly better abrasion resistance, tear strength, and resilience than standard natural rubber compounds. Originally developed for the mineral processing industry in Malaysia, Linatex has become the benchmark rubber lining material for slurry pumps, pipe liners, cyclone liners, and process equipment handling abrasive slurries in mining and mineral processing. It is produced from pure natural rubber latex through a cold-cure process that preserves the polymer chain structure, resulting in superior dynamic and wear properties compared with conventional vulcanised rubber.

Working properties

• Outstanding abrasion resistance

  Linatex's defining property is abrasion resistance that is consistently rated among the highest of any rubber sheeting. In standardised abrasion tests and field service in mineral processing, Linatex outperforms standard natural rubber and most synthetic rubber compounds. This is the primary reason it is specified for slurry pump liners, pipe bends, and chute lining.

• Resilience and energy absorption

  Linatex has exceptional resilience — it returns energy efficiently rather than absorbing it as heat. This gives it excellent resistance to impact and particle impingement, making it effective for protection against abrasive particle impact at angles above approximately 30°, where harder materials (like ceramics) perform poorly.

• Tear strength

  Tear strength is very high — Linatex resists propagation of cuts and tears from sharp particles in slurry flows. This extends service life compared with lesser rubber linings in applications where sharp mineral particles are present.

• Oil and solvent resistance

  Like standard natural rubber, Linatex is not resistant to petroleum-based oils, fuels, or solvents. Confirm that the slurry or process fluid does not contain significant oil contamination that would cause rubber swelling.

• Temperature range

  Linatex performs best at ambient to moderately elevated temperatures. High-temperature slurries or process fluids may require different rubber or synthetic liner compounds. Confirm service temperature at enquiry.

Typical uses

• Slurry pump impellers, volutes, and wear plates in mineral processing
• Pipe lining for slurry and tailings transfer pipelines
• Cyclone liners and hydrocyclone internal surfaces
• Chute lining, hopper lining, and impact protection in ore handling
• Screen deck rubber and vibrating screen impact bars
• Pump suction and discharge hose lining in abrasive duty

Things to confirm before ordering

• Slurry characteristics — confirm abrasive particle size, shape, and concentration; and slurry pH and any chemical content to verify natural rubber suitability.
• Operating temperature — confirm the temperature of the slurry or process fluid.
• Thickness — Linatex is available in a range of thicknesses; the required thickness depends on the service life expected and the severity of abrasion.
• Bonding method — Linatex sheet is bonded to equipment surfaces using specialised Linatex adhesive and installation procedures; confirm installation requirements at enquiry.

How does Linatex compare?

• Standard Natural Rubber (NR)

  Standard natural rubber sheet is more economical but has lower abrasion resistance and resilience than Linatex. For general-purpose applications, standard NR is sufficient. Linatex is chosen for the most wear-demanding mineral processing and slurry applications where wear life is critical.

• PU (Polyurethane) →

  PU has higher abrasion resistance than standard NR and can outperform rubber at low impingement angles (sliding wear). Linatex performs better at high impingement angles (impact wear). The appropriate choice depends on the dominant wear mechanism in the application.