The durability of an industrial rubber sheet determines its performance.
Are you frustrated with low-quality industrial rubber products that fail when you need them the most?
Have the replacement costs gone high recently?
Are your workers complaining of wear and tear on the silicone rubber products they are using?
A durable rubber sheet not only means high performance, but it also means lower expenses. If your expenses on industrial rubber products become less, it will show in your profit margins, as well.
Do you want to know how the durability of rubber products, especially rubber sheets, is tested? Here you go.
8 Tests to Determine Rubber Sheet Durability
Whether you need a material that can withstand harsh environmental conditions, resist wear and tear, or maintain its properties over time, understanding the durability of a rubber sheet is essential.
Check out the following tests that help you determine the durability of your rubber sheeting:
1. Tensile strength test:
The tensile strength test is used to determine the capability of the industrial rubber sheet to withstand stress. There are different methods to test the tensile strength of industrial rubber products. They are the strip test, dumbbell test, and ring test. The tests involve a tensile tester and data acquisition.
Process: The industrial rubber sheet is made to stretch. After a particular instant, it will break down. The maximum force or stress that was required to deform the rubber products permanently is measured. This test is significant in checking the durability of silicone rubber products and others.
2. Shore hardness strength:
A Durometer is used to measure the hardness of the industrial rubber products. The hardness of rubber sheets differs with industrial applications.
Some think that rubber sheets having more hardness can offer high durability in abrasive environments. However, it is not entirely true as a softer rubber sheet with the right flexibility can withstand tough working conditions, as well.
While conveyor belt rubber is harder than the rubber sheets used for sealing and gaskets, if you use relatively harder silicone rubber products for sealing, it is more likely to break down or form cracks. Thus, it is important to get your rubber sheet tested to check its shore hardness to measure its durability.
3. Compression set test:
Compression set test can measure the capacity of rubber to gain back its original formation after applying compressive stress for a long time. In this test, the industrial rubber sheet is subjected to compression by a load for an extended time.
The industrial rubber products are then inspected after the removal of the load. They don’t need to gain back their original formation by 100%. Durable rubber sheets can gain back almost their original formation.
4. Abrasion test:
In the abrasion test, the industrial rubber sheet is moved onto an abrasive surface. Eventually, there is some loss of volume of the rubber sheet. Abrasion-resistant industrial rubber products have less volume reduction. The abrasion test lets us know about the wear and tear resistance of rubber sheets.
An industrial rubber sheet having high abrasion resistance is more durable. Its physical properties do not disintegrate in abrasive environments.
5. Burst strength test:
This is a form of tensile strength test. The burst strength test is also known as the puncture testing. In the burst-strength test, the industrial rubber sheet is subjected to pressure. Its surface is given stress till it breaks. The test is done to calculate the time up to which the rubber sheet can withstand the pressure without breaking down.
Durable industrial rubber products have higher value from this test. They have high impact resistance and tensile strength, which is ideal for industrial settings.
6. Flex cracking test:
Industrial applications demand flexible industrial rubber products. A thick rubber sheet is less flexible than a thin sheet. The flex cracking test is done with a DeMattia machine. The industrial rubber sheet is bent at a specific speed, density, and degree. This is done to check whether the rubber sheet breaks down with bending.
After a point of time, the rubber sheet will break down due to repeated bending at high frequency. The flex cracking test calculates the number of bends required for a sheet to crack. When the calculated result is more, it means that it has higher flexibility. A higher number of bends infers that the rubber sheet has higher durability.
7. Discoloration metering:
Typically, rubber roofing sheets are exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged time. They should have high durability to perform seamlessly in outdoor applications. UV rays, ozone, and sunlight exposure for an extended time can fade the rubber product.
In this test, a Colorimeter is used to check the color difference. There is a color difference between a new rubber sheet and the one exposed to UV light. More color difference infers a less resistant industrial rubber sheet. Less color difference means that your rubber sheet is durable and resistant to sunlight.
8. Vertical rebound resilience:
Industrial rubber products react to external forces. The vertical rebound resilience calculates the elasticity of the rubber product. In this test, a plunger is vertically dropped from a height onto an industrial rubber sheet. This is done six times, one after another.
The height of the fourth to sixth rebounds is noted and averaged. Durable rubber sheets have higher durability, which is suitable for industrial applications.
To sum up
While durable rubber sheets elevate your business operations, rubber products from a recognized supplier uplift your entire business operations.
If you are looking for a rubber sheet supplier, contact us to know the set of benefits we offer our customers. Reach out now!
