Our custom nitrile moulding services deliver precision, durability and performance tailored to your exact specifications.
Nitrile moulding is a sophisticated manufacturing process used to create custom parts and components from Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), a highly versatile synthetic elastomer. The process involves heating the raw, unvulcanized nitrile material until it becomes pliable, then shaping it using a precisely machined mould. Through the application of heat and pressure in a process called curing or vulcanization, the polymer chains cross-link, creating a stable, solid, and durable final product with the desired properties.
The magic of nitrile lies in its chemical composition—it’s a copolymer created from acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene. The ratio of these two monomers is critical:
This ability to customise the ACN content, from 18% to 50%, allows us to engineer a material compound perfectly tailored to the specific operational environment of your component.
View the table below for a detailed breakdown of the available colours, hardness ranges, and specialist grades for Nitrile and other common elastomers we offer.
| Material | Available Colours | Hardness (Shore A) | Specialist Grade Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPDM | Black (standard), Blue, Biege | 35 - 90 | FDA, WRAS,Flame Retardant, EN45545-2, Antistatic/Conductive, Oil-Resistant, |
| Nitrile (NBR) | Black, (standard) Blue, Red, Brown | 40 - 90 | HNBR, XNBR, FDA, Metal Detectable, BS2751 |
| Natural Rubber (NR) | Black (standard) | 35 - 90 | FDA, Construction BS1154 |
| Neoprene (CR) | Black (standard) | 50 - 85 | Flame Retardant, BS2752 |
| FKM (Viton™) | Black (standard), Blue, Brown | 50 - 90 | FDA |
| Silicone (VMQ) | Translucent (natural) , All Colours | 20 - 80 | FDA, WRAS, Platinum Cured, Metal Detectable, Flame Retardant, EN45545-2 |
Choosing nitrile for your moulded components provides a powerful and cost-effective combination of performance benefits that make it a go-to material in countless industries.
This is the hallmark property of NBR. The acrylonitrile portion of the polymer creates a strong barrier against non-polar fluids. This makes nitrile the premier choice for any application involving prolonged contact with petroleum oils, mineral oils, hydraulic fluids, gasoline, diesel, and many other hydrocarbon-based chemicals. It ensures seals remain effective and components do not swell or degrade.
Moulded nitrile parts are tough. They exhibit high tensile strength (resisting stretching forces), ensuring they maintain their structural integrity under significant load. Furthermore, nitrile boasts excellent abrasion and tear resistance, making it ideal for dynamic applications where parts are subject to friction or physical wear. This durability translates to longer service life and reduced maintenance costs.
An effective seal must be able to return to its original shape after being compressed. Nitrile has a low compression set, meaning it resists permanent deformation under pressure. This quality, combined with its low permeability to gases like air and nitrogen, makes it an exceptional material for manufacturing O-rings, gaskets, and hydraulic seals that provide reliable, leak-free performance.
Standard nitrile compounds perform consistently and reliably across a broad service temperature range, typically from -40°C to +108°C (-40°F to +226°F). While not suitable for extreme high-temperature applications (where materials like Viton® or Silicone would be used), this range covers the vast majority of automotive, industrial, and hydraulic operating environments.
While versatile, NBR is not a universal solution. It has poor resistance to ozone, direct sunlight (UV radiation), and general weathering. For outdoor applications, it requires special protective additives or should be substituted with a more weather-resistant material like EPDM. Additionally, it is not recommended for use with highly polar solvents like ketones (e.g., acetone), esters, or chlorinated hydrocarbons.
| Property | Neoprene (CR) | Nitrile (NBR) | EPDM | Natural Rubber | FKM (Viton(tm)) | Silicone (VMQ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Attribute | Versatile All-Rounder | Oil and Fuel Resistant | Weather & Water Resistant | High Mechanical Strength | Extreme Heat and Chemical Resistant | Extreme Temperature Range |
| Abrasion Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
| Tear Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Tensile Strength | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Resilience / Rebound | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Weather / Ozone / UV | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Water & Steam Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Oil & Fuel Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
| Acid & Alkali Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Flame Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Temperature Range (Typical) | -40°C to 120°C | -35°C to 120°C | -50°C to 150°C | -50°C to 80°C | -20°C to 205°C | -60°C to 200°C |
| Cost | £££ | ££ | £££ | £ | £££££ | ££££ |
We utilise the three primary thermoset moulding technologies to produce parts with tight tolerances and consistent quality, matching the process to your specific volume, budget, and design complexity.
Injection Moulding is the gold standard for high-volume production of complex and precision-critical nitrile parts.
Compression moulding is a robust and cost-effective method, particularly well-suited for larger, simpler parts and low-medium volume production.
Transfer moulding is a hybrid process that offers more precision than compression moulding while being suitable for designs that may be too intricate for it.
Explore our core range of custom nitrile rubber components, specifically engineered to deliver superior, long-term performance in demanding fluid and fuel environments. These parts leverage Nitrile’s exceptional resistance to petroleum-based oils, hydrocarbon fuels, and abrasion, making them indispensable for automotive, industrial, and hydraulic applications. View our key moulded seals and bellows below, all manufactured with precision for high-integrity sealing and protection.
Rubber Bellows
Rubber Blocks
Rubber Bushes
Rubber Flanges
Rubber Diaphragms
Rubber Grommets
Nitrile’s unique property profile makes it an indispensable material across a vast spectrum of industries. We manufacture mission-critical components for:
The largest consumer of nitrile rubber. We produce fuel line O-rings, oil pan gaskets, water pump seals, engine grommets, and hydraulic hoses that must withstand constant exposure to fuel, oil, and engine fluids.
Engineered for durability and resistance to industrial lubricants, our parts are used in heavy machinery for seals, dampers, bellows, and rollers.
We mould high-reliability seals for hydraulic fluid and fuel systems in aircraft and ground vehicles, where performance under pressure is non-negotiable.
Nitrile components are crucial for seals, gaskets, and packers used in downhole equipment and fluid transfer systems, providing reliable performance against crude oil and drilling fluids.
We manufacture gaskets and seals for valves and regulators used in water, natural gas, and propane handling systems.
We supply durable, FDA-compliant nitrile seals and gaskets for food-grade pumps, mixers, and fluid transfer systems, essential for hygiene and safety against oils, cleaning chemicals, and temperature fluctuations.
HNBR is a specialty version of NBR where the polymer has been hydrogenated. This process significantly improves NBR’s resistance to heat, ozone, and many chemicals, raising its maximum service temperature to around 150°C (302°F). HNBR is more expensive and is used in more demanding applications, like high-temperature automotive systems.
Standard industrial-grade nitrile is not food-safe. However, special compounds can be formulated to meet food-grade standards like FDA 21 CFR 177.2600. If your application requires food or beverage contact, you must specify this so the correct certified compound is used.
Yes. While the natural colour of most nitrile compounds is black (due to the use of carbon black as a reinforcing filler), we can produce parts in a wide range of custom colours to meet your needs for branding, part identification, or aesthetics.
Lead times are dependent on part complexity and order volume, but tooling and initial samples are generally delivered in 4 weeks from design approval.
Standard nitrile is nor recommended for prolonged outdoor use due to poor resistance to UV and ozone. For outdoor applications, consider EPDM or request a specially compounded nitrile with protective additives.
Our team bring deep expertise in nitrile rubber formulation and moulding, ensuring your components meet demanding oil and fuel requirements
We follow stringent quality protocols, backed by ISO 9001 certification, to guarantee consistency from compound to final inspection.
With streamlined workflows and responsive scheduling, we help you meet tight deadlines without sacrificing performance.
We work closely with your team to refine designs, troubleshoot issues, and deliver nitrile parts that exceed expectations.
Let our experts help you manufacture the perfect custom component.
Contact us today for a no-obligation quote and a detailed engineering consultation.
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We ship our goods worldwide using a variety of couriers including DPD, DHL, TNT, UPS and FEDEX. Please contact us to discuss your shipping requirements.
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We ship our goods worldwide using a variety of couriers including DPD, DHL, TNT, UPS and FEDEX. Please contact us to discuss your shipping requirements.
