Polyisoprene Rubber
Polyisoprene rubber, IR, is a synthetic rubber that is very similar to natural rubber, particularly in regard to chemical resistance. The shared properties of synthetic IR and natural rubber have resulted in polyisoprene being often referred to as synthetic natural rubber.
REDCO is ready to handle the rigors of any rubber manufacturing production, including custom parts and components made from synthetic IR material. We perform all development, testing, and manufacturing in-house at our USA facility to ensure that you receive only the best final products. Contact us today, and one of our expert representatives will be in touch to discuss the needs of your planned production and determine which service is right for your goals.
Synthetic Polyisoprene Rubber Properties
To produce polyisoprene rubber, petroleum-derived raw material is polymerized to create a lightly colored, uniform, and highly pure synthetic material. IR acts in many similar capacities to natural rubber but removes the risk of latex allergens. As a result, it is often used as a substitute material where latex sensitivities are a top concern. It offers high tensile strength and performs well in extreme temperatures.
Features of Synthetic IR
IR material is a homogeneous polymer structure with excellent purity, consistency, and processability. Other properties of polyisoprene rubber include:
- Specific Gravity: .93
- Tensile Strength, PSI—Reinforced: 3000
- Practical Shore A Hardness Range: 30-95
IR Benefits & Advantages
Polyisoprene rubber shares many of the same advantages and benefits as natural rubber. It is a great choice when you are looking for resistance to a variety of factors as well as strong performances at variable temperatures. Other benefits are:
- Excellent room temperature and high heat resilience
- Excellent resilience to tearing and abrasion
- Excellent low temperature flexibility
- Good to excellent moisture resistance
- Good to excellent dielectric properties
- Good oxidation, heat, diluted acid, and oxygenated solvent resistance
- Good to fair compression set
- Fair concentrated acid resistance
- Fair permeability
Polyisoprene Limitations
Despite the many advantages of choosing synthetic polyisoprene, this rubber has a few critical limitations. It has poor flame resistance, making it unideal for any application requiring exposure to open fire. It also displays a poor resistance to some solvents, hydrocarbons, oil, gasoline, and some animal or vegetable oils.
If synthetic natural rubber is not your best solution, we offer many other rubber materials to meet the needs of your unique rubber manufacturing production. Download our Properties of Rubber chart to learn more about your options, and call 775-882-3100 to speak with a representative directly about your options.
The Best Applications for Synthetic IR
Typical applications of synthetic polyisoprene rubber are almost interchangeable with those of natural rubber. It is commonly used to manufacture:
Choose REDCO for High-Quality Custom Polyisoprene Productions
Why work with REDCO? All of our products are American-made under one roof. Our team has decades of combined industry experience, qualifying us to assist you as you select the best rubber material for your unique production. Our quality control system is second to none, and it is the responsibility of every employee, supervisor, and manager to maintain our uncompromising standards.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your custom polyisoprene manufacturing job. Request a quote to begin your order.
