From the automotive industry to engineering, rubber is one of the essential materials every mechanic and DIY-er should be familiar with. This durable material presents various characteristics—elasticity, strength, flexibility, and friction—that make it useful for different applications. There are also rubber seals, which prevent vibration and seals things to make them airtight and watertight.
If you’re interested to know more about rubber, how important it is for sealing, and the various rubber applications and usability it provides in day-to-day life, you’re in the right place. Keep scrolling to find out how you can use this handy material at home or work.
Why is rubber important for sealing?
The components of rubber make it an ideal material for products you see and use in everyday life, like shoes and rubber bands. Rubber is also a common material in sealing products, as it is known for its elastic properties and excellent resistance to corrosive fluids. It is also resistant to abrasions, tearing, and cutting across a broad range of temperatures.
Moreover, rubber is impervious to both water and air. With so many features that it provides and notable characteristics, it’s the go-to sealing material for many people. Here are some real-world examples of where rubber is used for sealing:
- Rubber gaskets in motorcycles to assist in movement and seal the joint airtight
- Roof and floor sealant
- A spongy absorber of sound in windows and doors
- Moldings around windows, boots, and windshields
- Sealing appliances and other devices, such as washing machines and pipes
Other applications of rubber
1. Rubber adhesives
People usually have adhesives on standby in case they need them. Rubber adhesives are elastic and can bond and seal holes, cracks, and gaps, allowing users to repair damaged objects like hoses, shoe soles, and more quickly and easily. Rubber adhesives can also be used for arts and crafts such as model making since they can bond materials permanently and optimally.
2. Rubber hose
Since rubber is resistant to both water and air, the material is used in rubber hoses to retain water or other liquid fluids and even gases. Any hose can carry more than one rubber element, depending on the construction of the layers. Typically, the factors required for a hose are resistance to oil and fluid, aromatics, temperature, fatigue, and natural flexibility.
These are some of the types of rubber hoses in industrial applications:
- Industrial hose: Different industrial hose applications include water and steam hoses, air hoses, refrigerant hoses, and chemical hoses.
- Fire service: Fire hoses are made of water-resistant rubber material with heat and abrasion resistance suitable for its intended use.
- Garden hose: Every house probably has this to water the plants or lawn.
3. Rubber gloves
People who work in hospitals, chemical laboratories, salons and spas, the food and beverage industry, cleaning services, and more use gloves as a piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing tasks that involve potentially dangerous materials. Latex, one of the materials used to produce rubber gloves, is made from natural rubber.
Rubber gloves are made using waterproof materials like natural or synthetic rubber and can be reusable or disposable. Reusable gloves come up to the elbow, are typically used for cleaning, and can be washed with hot and mild detergent. Meanwhile, disposable gloves are designed for one-time use. They are commonly used in medical facilities, food prep, and salons.
4. Rubber flooring
Modern flooring technology includes opting for rubber floors in commercial and high-traffic areas. Rubber flooring is a type of resilient, slip-resistant flooring that provides padding. Since the material is now accessible and comes in various colors, patterns, and textures, it has made its way into residential and exterior applications.
Many contractors have also started choosing rubber flooring for gyms, commercial kitchens, playrooms, and utility areas. This flooring lasts longer and is easy to maintain, making it suitable for those looking for a more affordable flooring option.
5. Rubber bands
One of the first uses of rubber bands was to hold papers and envelopes together. Today, rubber bands have evolved into the most common application of rubber in daily life, with uses ranging from practical to decorative.
For instance, look around your home and check how many products you have in a pump dispenser. This can be a body wash, shampoo, conditioner, alcohol, dishwashing or handwashing liquid, or even syrups for beverages. Chances are, you’ve had far too many occurrences where you dispensed more product than you need with one pump.
You can use rubber bands and wrap them around the dispenser’s neck to allow better portion control. This simple yet nifty rubber hack limits how much product comes out, which can be enough for what you need without wastage.
Wrapping it up
Now that you know how versatile rubber is as a material and how much of it is being used around you, you can make the most of its features and capabilities to improve your daily life, work, and hobbies.
For your rubber engineering and sealing needs, check out Simplex, the Philippines’ premier distributor of the most complete and full-range quality industrial parts made from rubber and other related materials. Head over to the shop to browse our available rubber products, such as rubber hoses, rubber gaskets, and more.
