Rubber Sheeting

Neoprene is the usual choice for general-purpose gaskets, as it seals well, copes with weather and tolerates light oils. For oil and fuel lines use nitrile, for water and outdoor joints use EPDM, and for hot or food-contact applications use silicone. Once the compound is chosen, match the thickness and hardness to the joint.

Neoprene is the all-rounder for general sealing and outdoor use, nitrile is the compound to choose where oils and fuels are present, and EPDM is best for water, weather, sunlight and ozone. EPDM is not suited to oils, and nitrile weathers less well outdoors, so the substance the rubber touches usually decides.

Use nitrile. It is the standard compound for contact with oils, greases and fuels. The BA60 nitrile sheet is described as oil and fuel resistant and references BS2751, and nitrile-bonded cork sheet is available for oil and fuel gaskets. For hot fuels or aggressive chemicals, Viton (FKM) is the higher-grade option.

Yes. EPDM is the compound made for outdoor use, as it resists weather, sunlight and ozone, and neoprene also performs well outside. Nitrile and natural rubber are better kept indoors or under cover for long-term use, as sunlight and ozone gradually crack their surface.

Choose a sheet whose listing states food-contact compliance. The white food-quality silicone sheet references FDA 177 and EC 1935/2004, and the blue food-quality nitrile sheet references FDA 21 CFR 177. The blue metal-detectable silicone sheet is also listed as food quality, for lines that use metal detectors. These statements apply to those named products.

Shore A measures how hard rubber is, from very soft at the low end of the scale to very firm at the high end. Most sheet here sits between 60 and 70 Shore A. Softer rubber presses more easily into uneven surfaces, while harder rubber holds its shape better under pressure and wear.

For most flange and cover gaskets, 1.5mm to 3mm is typical, with 6mm used where the surfaces are rough or uneven. Neoprene gasket sheet comes in 1mm to 10mm and general solid sheet in 1mm to 25mm. Thicker is not always better, as a thick, soft gasket can squeeze out under high clamping pressure.

Yes. Sheet up to about 3mm cuts cleanly with a sharp utility knife or heavy scissors, while thicker sheet cuts best with a long blade, scored in several passes against a straight edge. Wetting the blade with soapy water helps on thick or firm rubber, and a hole punch gives neat bolt holes.

Insertion sheet has layers of fabric built into the rubber, which stop it stretching or tearing under load. It is used for gaskets on bolted joints, flaps, skirting strips and wear pads where plain sheet would distort. The insertion rubber sheets include one-ply reinforced sheet, a reinforced neoprene skirting strip and conveyor belting sheet.

Choose silicone where heat comes with food contact or a need for flexibility in the cold, and Viton where heat comes with fuels, oils or chemicals. The white food-quality silicone sheet is stated from −60°C to 230°C, and the Viton (FKM) sheet is stated up to 250°C, so both handle high heat and the contact substance decides.