SBR

Overview

SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber, also known as Buna-S) is one of the most widely produced synthetic rubbers globally. It was originally developed as a synthetic substitute for natural rubber during wartime material shortages and has since become a standard material for high-volume, cost-sensitive applications including vehicle tyres, conveyor belts, flooring, and general gasket sheet. SBR shares similar limitations to natural rubber — it is not oil or ozone resistant — but is consistent in quality and often available at a lower cost than NR for general-purpose applications. It is not the best rubber for any single property, but its combination of acceptable mechanical properties and low cost makes it practical for general industrial use.

Working properties

• Abrasion resistance

  SBR has good abrasion resistance — comparable to or slightly better than natural rubber in some applications. This makes it useful for flooring, conveyor belt covers, and wear-resistant matting where abrasion is the primary concern.

• Mechanical properties

  SBR has adequate tensile strength and elongation for general-purpose gasketing and matting but lower dynamic resilience than natural rubber. For applications requiring high fatigue resistance or dynamic energy return, NR is a better choice.

• Oil and fuel resistance

  SBR is not oil or fuel resistant. Like natural rubber, it swells significantly in petroleum-based fluids and is not suitable for any oil-contact application. For oil resistance, NBR is required.

• Ozone and UV resistance

  SBR is susceptible to ozone and UV degradation. For outdoor applications or environments near electrical equipment that produces ozone, EPDM is the appropriate choice.

• Cost

  SBR is generally one of the more economical rubber materials available, making it appropriate for cost-sensitive general-purpose applications such as matting, flooring underlayment, and low-specification gaskets.

Typical uses

• Industrial rubber matting and flooring
• General-purpose gasket sheet for non-oil, non-ozone applications
• Conveyor belt covers and backing material
• Low-cost impact protection pads and bumpers
• Vibration dampening pads for light-duty applications

Things to confirm before ordering

• Oil or fuel contact — SBR is not appropriate for oil or fuel environments; specify NBR instead.
• Outdoor or ozone exposure — SBR is not suitable for outdoor or ozone-exposed use; specify EPDM instead.
• Hardness — confirm required Shore A hardness.
• Application — SBR is a general-purpose material; if specific properties are critical, confirm whether a more specialised rubber grade is appropriate.

How does SBR compare?

• Natural Rubber (NR)

  NR has better dynamic properties (resilience, fatigue resistance) and tear strength. SBR is a lower-cost alternative for static and general-purpose applications where dynamic performance is not critical.

• NBR

  NBR is required whenever oil or fuel contact is present — SBR is not a substitute in those environments.