Common problems and solutions for rubber parts

Rubber parts are widely used in automobiles, home appliances, medical, food, machinery and other industries. Even if the design and materials are chosen correctly, problems can still arise due to environment, usage, or improper installation. The following is a collection of frequently asked questions and corresponding solutions for your reference when designing and purchasing products.

1. Poor sealing (water leakage, air leakage, oil leakage)

• Common reasons :

1. O-ring size mismatch or incorrect installation

2. The rubber material is incompatible with the medium (such as using general rubber to contact strong acids/oils)

3. Permanent deformation after long-term compression (compression permanent deformation is too high)

• Solution:

1. Accurately select seal ring size

2. Choose appropriate materials (such as NBR for oil resistance, FKM for high temperature resistance, and Silicone for food contact)

3. Design for the right compression ratio (20–30% is generally recommended)

2. Aging cracks

• Common reasons :

1. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays, ozone or high temperatures

2. Use of non-weather-resistant materials (such as NR, SBR)

• Solution :
  

1. Switch to EPDM, Silicone, FKM and other weather-resistant materials

2. Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure and wear protective cover if necessary

3. Hardening or softening

• Common reasons:

1. Rubber reacts with oil/chemicals

2. High temperature environment causes plasticizer to volatilize

• Solution:

1. Confirm the usage environment and media, and use compatible materials (such as NBR, EPDM, FKM, Silicone)

2. For food/medical applications, choose certified FDA/LFGB materials

4. Insufficient elasticity and permanent deformation

• Common reasons:

1. Long-term compression or tension exceeding the material limit

2. Improper hardness selection (too soft or too hard)

• Solution:

1. Choose the appropriate hardness according to actual needs (Shore A 30–90)

2. Avoid over-compression of the design and use highly elastic materials (such as Silicone, EPDM) if necessary

5. Concerns about odor or toxicity

• Common reasons:

1. Using industrial grade rubber for food/medical applications

2. Without cleaning or secondary vulcanization treatment

• Solution:

1. Food grade/medical grade products use food grade silicone (Silicone)

2. Passed FDA, LFGB, RoHS, REACH certification

3. Cleaning and devolatilization before shipment

6. Color turns yellow or moldy

• Common reasons:

1. White or transparent rubber exposed to air and moisture for a long time

2. Dust adsorbed on the surface and bacterial growth

• Solution :

1. Switch to a highly anti-yellowing formula (especially for transparent silicone)

2. Use antibacterial silicone or spray antibacterial coating on the surface

7. Installation damage (cracks, cuts)

• Common reasons:

1. Excessive stretching during installation

2. Sharp-edged parts scratch the rubber

• Solution:

1. Use lubricant (silicone oil, glycerin water solution) during installation

2. Avoid excessive stretching (generally no more than 50% of the original length)

3. Improved part structure to avoid sharp corner wear

Conclusion

The reliability of rubber parts depends on correct material selection + reasonable design + correct installation.

As a professional rubber parts manufacturer, we have decades of experience and can assist customers in providing complete solutions from material selection, structural design to production verification to ensure that your products can operate stably in different environments.