What Does
Nitrile Rubber Mean?
Nitrile rubber is a synthetic rubber made from a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. It has good elastomeric properties and is also resistant to physical hazards like punctures, cuts, snags, abrasion, oil, caustics and aliphatic hydrocarbons. As a result of its strength and resiliency, it is used in several saftety-related applications.
Nitrile rubber is also known as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR).
Safeopedia Explains Nitrile Rubber
Nitrile rubber is used in the production of fuel hoses, gaskets, rollers, gloves seals, grommets and other products where oil resistance is essential. Nitrile rubber gloves are also used in nuclear industry. This material is also ideal for aeronautical material as its operating temperature ranges from -40 to 108 °C (-40 to 226 °F). Other common uses of nitrile rubber include molded goods, footwear, adhesives, sealants, sponges, foams, non-latex gloves for the healthcare industry, automotive transmission belts and floor mats.
Gloves made of nitrile rubber are used in labs, cleaning and examination work. It is three times more puncture-resistant than natural rubber, and better resistant to oils and acids, although it's less flexibile.
Nitrile rubber is incompatible with solvents and chlorinated hydrocarbons. It is not flame resistant.Use of nitrile gloves while working with nitric acid or oxidizers can be hazardous. It may spontaneously oxidize the gloves, resulting in thermal and chemical burns from heat of oxidation and the caustic sample.