Category Archive: Products

Tips for Selecting the Right Polymer Material for Your Application

Selecting the proper polymer material for your application is a critical aspect of the product design process. CGR MaterialsEnsuring that gaskets form a proper seal means that your product will perform properly in your customer’s application and not cost their business money through downtime and malfunctions.

Determining the operating temperatures of your applications allows you to select polymer material that will withstand both the normal operating temperature, along with the maximum temperature that your application requires. The ability to withstand heat or cold prevents damage to the material during the normal life of your equipment.

Similarly, cost is also an issue. Using a very expensive material when it is not necessary can mean trouble for the bottom line. On the other hand, using inexpensive material that can’t withstand the rigors of the application can mean more lost money in repairs than was saved by using cheaper material.

Silicone

Silicone is a commonly used material for a number of reasons. Properties of the material include:

  • Resistance to temperature extremes, with an approximate range of -150°F to +500°F
  • UV resistance
  • Ozone resistance
  • Resilience with regards to mechanical fatigue
  • Excellent resistance to creep and compression-set

Although silicone is one of the materials that is higher in cost, it is offset by its temperature resistance and other properties that make it an excellent selection for various applications. With the somewhat higher cost, manufacturers can be assured that the material will last longer and be more resistant to temperature extremes and other factors which may be present in the application.

Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR)

SBR is the material with the lowest relative cost. For applications which do not require a material as robust as most others, SBR may be the choice for your application. Some of its properties include:

  • Temperature resistance between -65°F and +180°F
  • Excellent abrasion resistance
  • Solid adhesion to rigid metals
  • Excellent resistance to impact

While SBR rubber does offer low cost, its chemical resistance is poor. Engineers should take careful note of what chemicals are present in the intended application and decide if SBR is the right material for the job.

Fluorosilicone

Relatively, the most expensive material used in applications is fluorosilicone. While it does not provide the range of temperature resistance of other materials, it has excellent resistance to fuel and is commonly used in aerospace applications for fuel or lubricant systems. Some of its properties include:

  • Temperature resistance from -85°F up to +350°F
  • Resistance to fuel, oil and solvents
  • Good compression set and resilience
  • Suitable for exposure to air, ozone, sunlight, chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons

There are many other polymer materials available for use in various applications, and CGR Product can help you select the material that will best suit your needs. Visit our Materials page to see the full selection of available materials. We also offer guides with cost and temperature information on some of the most commonly used polymers.
Find the Temperature Range & Cost of Your Polymer Material
Whatever your application needs, contact CGR today and let us show you how we can assist you.

If it’s Soft and Pliable, CGR has Got it Covered

Getting the proper lamination for your products can mean the difference between a good, sturdy product that is protected or one that doesn’t measure up. When you need the right lamination for your item, CGR offers the right products to fit your needs. With lamination available for products that range in size from 0.062” to 3” thick and at widths up to 84” wide, there’s something for every application. At CGR we offer a variety of lamination techniques using different methods to ensure you get the proper lamination for your project each time.

At CGR we have a wide range of lamination procedures including pressure sensitive adhesive products, chemical fastening systems, and even thermal, film barrier and polyethylene glue web lamination. Depending on what needs to be laminated we also offer foam tapes, PSA, sticky back adhesives, tape laminate, peel and stick and more.

The variety of adhesive options offered range from economical to high performance when permanent bonding applications are required. If you have flexible materials that are dissimilar, we can bond them together with specialty composite laminations. CGR has serviced a wide range of industries including: automotive, heavy equipment, mining, appliances, marine, medical equipment, military, and more.

CGR has lab facilities for engineering and quality reports, to ensure all of our lamination services are consistently meeting standards. With two warehouses full of stock, we are able to offer short lead times for repeat items and new services. If you have something that is soft and pliable, CGR can help you with your laminating needs.

Top Questions You always Wanted To Ask About Cellular Rubber (And Probably Should Have!)

If rubber could talk, it would label us humans “ingrates”! We all realize the importance of steel and iron in our daily lives and indeed these metals are highly valued. But what about rubber?

Without the elasticity and the tensile strength of this material, our modern world would be strangely dystopian. Everything from blankets to telephone housings to driving gear depends upon the unique properties of rubber to accomplish the tasks they are meant for.

The topic of this succinct post however is not solid rubber. It is the better, improved, more resilient cellular rubber. The following top FAQs tell you everything you always wanted to know about Cellular rubber (and probably should have asked your supplier):

Q1. Why should you prefer cellular rubber to solid rubber?

A: Solid rubber is created in the conventional way through the process of vulcanization. However cellular rubber is different because it has a defined cellular structure. It is created using gas developing agents which introduce air, thus making the material less hard and dense but more heat resistant and absorbent. Cellular rubber, in comparison to solid rubber has lesser density and thus less cost implications as material (mass) per unit volume reduces. (Mass = Density * Volume)

Q2. What is the difference between open cell and closed cell rubber?

A: The two main varieties of “cellular” rubber are:

  • Open cell or sponge rubber in which the distinctive cells are open and interconnected to the neighboring cells. This pattern allows air and moisture to seep in easily, giving this rubber its absorbent quality and the ability to regain its physical form after compression (compression set)
  • Closed cell or expanded rubber which doesn’t allow the seepage of fluids. This rubber is cheaper and has the ability to stay afloat in water which can’t violate its structure.

Q3. So what is foam rubber and how is it different?

A: The most popular foam rubber example is PVC. Foam rubber is created using a set of processes that are slightly different from the production of sponge or open cell rubber. In case of foams the air (or gas) bubbles are actually trapped in the substrate of pliant rubber, instead of merely creating pockets within the structure because of the disturbance their passage makes. Foam can be predominantly open cell or closed cell. Though in most cases it is a combination of both!

Q4. What are compression set and compression deflection?

A: Compression set is defined as the property of rubber by virtue of which it can regain its original physical form after being exposed to compressive forces. Thanks to the pockets or cells in sponge rubber, it has excellent compression set.

Compression deflection on the other hand is the force required to compress a unit volume of rubber. Expanded rubber has no pockets whatsoever and a high value of compression deflection.

Q5. What are tensile strength and elongation?

A: Tensile strength is expressed in terms of force per unit cross sectional area of the rubber required to rupture it.

Elongation is an associated term that measures the increase in the length of the specimen with respect to its original dimensions, upon application of the tensile or breaking stress. Right when elongation stops, rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure begins.

Cellular rubber is a modern miracle and can be defined in terms of other specifications like ability to absorb shock, floatation capacity and fluid immersion. But these basic concepts should be enough to help you choose the kind of rubber you need for your manufacturing ventures.

Not Your Average Tape

You may not even realize that you come across foam tape in your everyday life. It could have even been this morning when you opened your front door! Whenever there is a need to keep out water, dust, or to protect from UV exposure, foam tape can really come in handy. It’s so easy to apply that anyone can do it, which makes it even more likely that you’ve seen it today and may not have even known! CGR makes our product by laminating a tape to the foam with adhesive on one side. A customer can then peel the liner off and stick the foam tape where they want weather stripping. Super easy, super effective.

These insulating tapes are made with closed cell foam and can be found in a long list of applications ranging from acoustical insulation to medical devices to tractors to HVAC equipment. They can form a tighter seal to keep out wind, cold, dust, dirt, water, and UV rays from sensitive equipment and areas. We can make foam tapes as narrow as 1/8” wide and then create long, vulcanized rolls to accommodate virtually any length. CGR can also make tapes in a variety of thicknesses with clean, accurate, and consistent cuts to meet your specific needs. So the next time you open your screen door or roll down your car window remember to take a look at the insulating foam tape!