Oil refineries deal with crude oil, hydrocarbons, and aggressive chemicals everyday, making the need for protection critical. Machines need gaskets and seals that are oil resistant. Floors need a protective covering to minimize slips, trips, and falls. Hence Nitrile rubber sheets are called to the rescue.
Are you going to bulk order Nitrile rubber sheets for your refineries? Do you know the guidelines you should follow for bulk procurement? Don’t you want to verify if all the batches are quality-assured? How are you going to do that?
In this blog, we are going to give you a handbook with the things refineries should verify before bulk procurement of Nitrile rubber sheets.
Why Nitrile Rubber is Used for Oil & Fuel Companies?
Nitrile rubber is renowned for its exceptional oil and fuel resistance. It is made of acryloNitrile and butadiene copolymer. It offers a long service life in the oil and gas sectors where exposure to oil and fuel is common.
Duratuf Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance come in different grades for light, moderate, and heavy-duty applications. They are used for different purposes, ranging from gaskets to chemical zone flooring.
In addition, they are RoHS and REACH compliant. The Nitrile rubber sheets are tested with an oil immersion test, dissolving the sample in industrial fuels and oils for 70 hours.
Common Applications of Nitrile Rubber Sheets
The resistance properties and mechanical strength of Nitrile rubber sheets make them ideal for refinery applications. Here are some of them:
Oil Seals and Gaskets
Nitrile rubber sheets are used for oil and fuel resistant seals and gaskets in pumps, valves, pipelines, and fuel handling systems.
Protective Liners
Being oil resistant, they are used to make oil-resistant liners to reduce chemical or oil spillage in refineries.
Flooring
Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance are used for flooring in chemical-exposed areas of refineries. These areas include workshops, storage areas, and other industrial zones.
Surface Protection
They are also used in industrial regions for maintenance. They protect things from spillage and contamination in this industry.
Padding
They are used for padding to absorb vibration and provide an insulation layer. This reduces mechanical wear and noise control in motors, compressors, and pumps.
Key Properties That Make Nitrile Rubber Sheets Oil & Fuel Resistant
Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance are resistant to the following substances:
- Petrol
- Hydraulic fluid
- Diesel
- Gasoline
- Grease
- Cod liver oil
- Pyranol, transformer oil,
- SR-10 fuel, and others.
What Refineries Must Verify Before Buying Nitrile Rubber Sheets?
It is important that you purchase Nitrile rubber sheets that are suitable for your application. Make sure to check these parameters and then purchase from your supplier:
Oil & Fuel Compatibility
You should check if your Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance have adequate resistance properties for that. They should not swell or deform with exposure to oils and fuels.
AcryloNitrile Content
Ensure that the polymer content of each batch of Nitrile rubber sheets is analyzed and is as per the quality standards. Polymer purity can be anywhere from 10% to 100%.
Mechanical Strength
Mechanical strength is measured in hardness, tensile strength and elongation at break. It is better if the Nitrile sheet has a hardness of 65 ± 5° Shore A and tensile strength between 4 MPa to 10 MPa, respectively. Besides, they should have elongation at break ranging from 200% to 300%.
Temperature Resistance
Nitrile rubber sheet is not suitable for too high or extreme low temperatures. The Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance should have temperature resistance for temperatures ranging from -30 degrees to +110 degrees centigrade.
Thickness & Sheet Dimensions
Nitrile sheets come in various thicknesses ranging from 2mm and above. Their dimension also varies. Make sure that your supplier provides customization options.
Chemical Compatibility
Nitrile rubber sheets do not deform when exposed to oils and hydrocarbons. However, they might not sustain strong chemical usage.
Common Procurement Mistakes Companies Should Avoid
These small mistakes can cost you huge maintenance expense and downtime. Check the things that you should avoid during procurement.
1️. Selecting rubber sheets based only on price
Low prices may compromise the quality of the Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance.
2️. Not verifying oil resistance specifications
Their oil resistance properties should be ideal for the application.
3️. Ignoring temperature limits
Using Nitrile rubber sheets for temperatures higher or lower than their limit can result in premature aging.
4️. Purchasing inconsistent quality in bulk orders
Low-quality Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance will not be able to sustain in petroleum applications.
Best Practices for Selecting Right Nitrile Rubber Sheets for Oil and Fuel Resistance
Most of the times, the quality of the Nitrile rubber sheets are compromised. Buyers also face problems regarding pricing and more. Follow these guidelines:
Request technical datasheets
It will help you verify the specifications of the Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance.
Confirm batch consistency
Each batch of Nitrile rubber sheets should be inspected, tested, and certified.
Ensure supplier quality control
Chemical resistance, oil resistance, temperature resistance, hardness and tensile strength should meet the industry standards.
Compare quotations
Ask for quotations from multiple suppliers to compare the specifications and pricing of the Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance.
Choosing a Reliable Nitrile Rubber Sheet Supplier for Refineries
You should check if your supplier ticks these boxes:
- Consistent raw material quality
The Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance should be made with high-quality acryloNitrile and butadiene copolymer. - Large-scale supply capacity
They should have ready stock, local channel partners, multiple shipping methods, and an efficient supply chain team. As a result, they should be able to deliver bulk orders without delay. - Technical support for applications
During any bulk purchase for the oil and gas industry, you should get high-end pre-sales and after-sales support from your supplier. - Good reputation
Your supplier should have a good reputation and positive reviews in the market that ensure their authenticity.
Summary
Nitrile rubber sheets are ideal for industries where oil, fuel, and chemical resistance properties are necessary. However, along with necessary guidelines for bulk purchase, in case of bulk purchase, we also offer special pricing for you.
For more information about bulk purchase of Nitrile rubber sheets for oil and fuel resistance, reach out to us!
