Who would have thought there were so many different types of rubber? Rubber science actually has a lot to do with chemistry and polymer science. In order to pick the right rubber type for your application, you should be aware of the following general guidelines for each rubber type in the chart below.

Rubber Type
	Fluoroelastomers generally have a wide chemical resistance and have high service temperature ranges. Due to a fluoroelastomer's polarity, it can withstand interactions with non-polar substances (i.e. hydrocarbons, oils, and fuels).
	EPDM is a synthetic, non-polar polymer that is compatible with polar substances like water and ketones. EPDM exhibits outstanding resistance to heat, ozone, steam, and weather. It is an electrical insulator.
	Nitrile or NBR is a synthetic copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. The higher the acrylonitrile (ACN) content of the polymer, the more resistant it is to oils and non-polar solvents. However, the lower the ACN content, the lower the glass transition temperature. Most applications requiring both oil resistance and low temperature flexibility require an ACN content of 33%.
	HNBR differs from NBR only by a saturation of its double bond. HNBR is known for its physical strength and retention of properties after long-term exposure to heat, oil, and chemicals. The high temperature rating allows for HNBR to be used in many automotive and industrial applications in things like dynamic and static seals, hoses, and belts.
	Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene which is harvested in the form of latex from rubber trees. Natural rubber has many applications and is useful due to its resistance to water, its high elongation ratio, and resiliency.
	SBR is used heavily in tires due its good abrasion resistance and aging stability. The higher the styrene/butadiene ratio, the harder and less rubber-like the polymer is.
	Silicone rubber exhibits good resistance to a wide range of temperatures, typically -100 C to 300 C. Silicone differs from other rubbers in that its backbone is made up of silicon and oxygen instead of carbon. This allows for silicone to have a good resistance to UV and ozone whereas other polymer types cannot.
	Neoprene has good chemical stability and exhibits good flexibility across a wide temperature range. It resists degradation more than synthetic and natural rubbers and also resists burning better than hydrocarbon-based rubbers.
	Polyurethane is considered to be one of the most abrasion resistant polymers for rubber. It also shows good resistance to ozone, UV, and radiation. It is compatible with aliphatic hydrocarbons and fuels.
	Perfluoroelastomers contain an even higher fluorine content than FKMs. These compounds have an improved resistance to an even larger array of chemicals at higher temperatures.

For example, if you are making a large rubber seal that will spend most of its time underwater, you will most likely want to make that seal out of EPDM rubber due to its compatibility with water applications. Choosing the right polymer type sometimes can be tricky and you will want to lean on the expertise of your rubber supplier's team of experts to make the right selection for you. This is why communicating all of your requirements for the rubber product will effectively aid in selecting the best rubber polymer.