Before we look at how to test the quality of rubber, we need a clear understanding of the term ‘rubber quality’. Ensuring that you are working with the right quality of rubber might best be described as the process of making sure that the product or material that you choose is most suitable for the application in which you need it to perform. In other words, does it do the right job when it is brand new, and will it continue to perform at an acceptable level for as long as you want it to? 

This analysis can be broken down into two areas: firstly, the question of whether the mechanical design is correct, ensuring the product is functional and reliable and, secondly, whether the rubber type and grade is suitable for the conditions it will operate in. 

If the design of the product is sound and proven, which we can assess even before manufacture using non-linear finite element analysis, then we can really begin to focus on whether the rubber quality is right for your product. To answer this question, we would need to know about the operating environment of the rubber part, as this affects the choices you should make in terms of the polymer type and the grade of that polymer to provide the performance and service life that you need, within a specific budget. 

One of the most important points to remember about ‘rubber quality’ is that it isn’t necessarily true that the highest grade, most expensive material available will be the best solution; instead, we recommend that you aim to use the most cost effective and sustainable solution for the application – and it can often be the case that a lower cost, lower grade of material will perform perfectly well in meeting the design requirement and service life needed.