Parts made of rubber materials are used for products in a variety of fields, such as semiconductor equipment, home electric appliances, and automobiles. For example, an O-ring is a component necessary for sealing fluids and is utilized for products in all kinds of fields. However, rubber will be worn out during the use and may significantly impact the quality and safety of products.

In such a case, it is recommended to utilize a coating for rubber (lubricant film for rubber) that protects rubber components from wear. Hence, we explain the recommended commodities and the advantage of using such coatings, and use case examples while explaining the coating for rubber products. Please take a look at this if you are interested in adopting the coating for rubber.

What is lubrication films for rubber parts?

The coating for rubber (lubricant film for rubber) is a coating agent used for the protection of rubber materials. When a rubber material slides, it may wear out from the friction caused between another contacting material. The wear usually occurs by a combination of versatile factors, and the factors are classified as below:

 

• Abrasive Wear
• Coherent Wear
• Pattern Wear
• Adhesion Wear
• Fatigue Wear
• Wear caused by the roller-like wear powder generated

 

In some cases, wear durability is improved by the application of fillers or additives during the manufacturing process, or some rubber materials do exist that are comparably resistant to wear/friction. However, those still undergo wear in the course of continuous use, and it would lead to the deterioration of the rubber material due to wear. Hence, the coating of a film with lubricity on rubber materials can be adopted for the prevention of wear through reduced friction.

 

What is the recommended LUBELAS in the coating for rubber products (lubricant film for rubber)?

 

There are various types of coatings for rubber, and among those, the LUBELAS Series, our lubricant film for rubber, will be introduced. LUBELAS is a lubricant film for rubber having superior sliding durability even under a dry environment that can apply high sliding performance to rubber materials.

The lubricant film by LUBELAS is constructed of Drilube. Drilube is a multifunctional film that can give any type of functions, such as chemical resistance, electrical insulation, and water and oil repellency, in addition to lubricity. Use of Drilube will make the difficult to slip rubber materials slip more easily. The property will also be effective for the protection of rubber components and the prevention of sticking or adhesion of oil seals and other products. The suitable material property, utilization aims, and the applications of LUBELAS are introduced as well.

 

Materials compatible with the LUBELAS Series

The suitable material properties for the LUBELAS Series are as follows:

• NBR
• HNBR
• EPDM
• CR
• NR
• UR
• FKM
• Q
• CSM
• SBR
• BR
• IIR　e.t.c

There are a wide variety of rubber materials, and those have different properties. For example, NR offers excellent wear and oil resistance and is characterized by a wide range of uses in industrial products. They are also used for O-rings, oil seals, and various types of packings. The LUBELAS Series is sufficient for applications for various types of rubber materials, including NR. For information, for some of the materials, primer treatment is applied before use in the improvement of adhesiveness.

Utilization Aims of the LUBELAS Series

 

 

The suitable material properties for the LUBELAS Series are as follows:

• To improve sliding performance and durability of rubber materials
• To prevent adhesion
• To add color tone

The increased sliding performance and reduced friction will be acquired by the coating of a lubricant film on the rubber surface. The reduced friction will promise improved durability.

The rubber material may stick to the opposite surface if it contacts metal or some other materials under pressure. With a light level, it will result in cohesion, but there are some cases where it adheres so tightly that the rupture of the rubber is caused from peeling. Such sticking of the rubber can be avoided by utilizing the LUBELAS Series.

Furthermore, when the substrate material is changed, the surface improvement and color tone change may be applied.

Applications of the LUBELAS Series

The range of application of the LUBELAS Series is extremely wide; accordingly, it can be used for a wide variety of rubber materials. For example, it is frequently used for the following rubber components:

• O-ring
• Oil seal
• Stabilizer bush　
• Wiper blade
• Rubber roller
• Rubber sheet e.t.c

The O-rings that are used as industrial sealing material will be effective in sealing by the stress generated by crushing. In addition to the appropriate stress, it is necessary to apply wear resistance or a sliding property depending on the environment of use.

However, it is difficult to acquire all characteristics with synthetic rubber, and it is necessary to use in accordance with different applications. In such a situation, by utilizing the LUBELAS Series, the necessary wear resistance and slipping property necessary for an O-ring can be applied.

The oil seal is, as the name tells, a component to seal the oil. It seals between the rotating shaft and the casing of mechanical component and prevent oil from leaking. Application of surface coating using LUBELAS to the oil seal will reduce the friction coefficient and preserves the sealing performance for an extended period. Some coating films are compatible in the oil or gasoline environment.

Advantages of using the LUBELAS coating for rubber products (lubricant film for rubber)

 

The LUBELAS Series gives various performances to the rubber components by coating the rubber with a lubricant film, but what are the specific advantages of using it? Here, the advantages of using LUBELAS is explained.

High followinngness

The surface is covered with the lubricant film by applying LUBELAS, and the material will have hardness almost equivalent to rubber. Originally, the rubber has the superior characteristics of flexibility, durability, and waterproof performance. Particularly, the flexibility the rubber shows plays an important role.

With LUBELAS, the coating on the rubber surface does not compromise the flexibility of rubber. In addition, it is less likely to crack even when the rubber is stretched or bent.

Abrasion resistance

Wear will occur on any material and is not limited to rubber. Furthermore, since the detailed mechanism of wear of rubber is still not entirely elucidated, currently there is no way to perfectly prevent wear.

While it is possible to control the surface friction propensity and provide wear resistance by coating the surface with a lubricant film. Through improved wear resistance, higher durability compared to rubber materials without a coating will be realized.

Lubrication

High frictional forces may cause the destruction phenomena, such as a partial chipping of the material from the surface of the object. Rubber materials are those that originally have high wear resistance, and especially nitrile rubber, urethane rubber, and natural rubber are considered to provide superior wear resistance.

However, the excellent wear resistance does not necessarily mean that the friction coefficient is also low. Rubber has a high friction coefficient, and if friction or contact takes place over an extended period of time, fatigue degradation can occur. Fatigue degradation of rubber not only would result in a degraded function but also would affect the degradation of the physical properties and durability.

In the coated film with LUBELAS, lubricating components are contained. The lubricating components will bring about low friction performance and can provide a reduced friction coefficient.

Chemical resistance

Rubber has different chemical resistance depending on the material. For example, butyl rubber is resistant to hydrochloric acid, while ethylene propylene rubber tends to be resistant to alkalines, such as ammonia water.

Some of the coating films provided by LUBELAS offer chemical resistance, which makes it possible to add lubricating performance as well to chemically resistant rubber products.

Oil and Gasorin resistance

Rubber material has different properties, such as resistance to gasoline or oil. Gasoline and oil may also infiltrate between the rubber molecules and cause the rubber to swell. Excellent gasoline and oil resistance will also make it easier to prevent swelling and degradation of the strength.

Some of the coating films in LUBELAS offer gasoline resistance or oil resistance, which makes it possible to add lubricating performance as well to the gasoline resistant or oil resistant of rubber products.

Anti static

Rubber is affected by pressure and temperature resulting from nature in the increased density of internal cross linkage (connecting polymer chains through a chemical reaction). When this property acts, the reactant floats to the surface and forms a film. This film makes rubber and other substances adhere to each other, and further adhesion for an extended period of time will cause sticking.

If rubber and the substance stick together, it may cause motion issues. The fluororesin contained in LUBELAS has excellent low friction, non-adhesiveness among the synthetic resins and prevents rubber from sticking and adhering.

Let’s check the performance comparison table of the coating for rubber products (lubricant film for rubber)—the LUBELAS Series!

LUBELAS provides excellent performance as a coating agent for rubber but is different in the properties per product. Let’s compare the performance of the LUBELAS Series to see which the product is the most suitable coating agent for your company.

 

*The data shown above are for your reference only. The numerical values described on this page are not guaranteed.

Case examples of the use of the coating for rubber products (lubricant film for rubber products) with LUBELAS

 

The LUBELAS Series can add lubricity and other functions to all kinds of rubber materials. For this reason, it can be utilized in various industries, especially in the automotive and electronics industries, and rubber components are frequently used for the manufacturing equipment or product itself.

For example, oil seals are used to prevent oil leakage from the sliding surfaces of car engines and motors. In the event the oil seals deteriorate and are not functioning properly, oil will leak from the engine, possibly causing the components to seize up and lead to engine failure.

Also, since the oil seal prevents foreign substances from mixing in from the outside, if it is not functioning properly by any chance, it may cause wear of the rotating shaft and pistons. Thus, the LUBELAS Series can protect rubber materials essential for automotive components.

The LUBELAS Series is the most recommended coating for rubber products (lubricant film for rubber products)!

In this topic, we introduced the coatings for rubber (lubricant film for rubber products). In all industries, grease and oil are also used to slide rubber parts. However, sufficient effects may not be expected with grease or oil, depending on the environment of use.

With the LUBELAS Series, it is possible to add lubricity, wear resistance, and non-adhesiveness to rubber components, which adds stable sliding performance while enhancing protection. If you are looking for a coating agent that also preserves the flexibility of rubber, please try our LUBELAS Series.

Go Back to the Previous Page