Understanding Physical
Properties
March 2017
Daniel Pineda, Lab. Manager / LaTam
Weir Minerals Division 2
Key Physical Properties
Weir Minerals Division 3
Physical Properties Comparison
Linatex Competitor
Polymer Natural rubber Natural rubber
Hardness 38 IRHD 37 IRHD
Specific gravity 0.96 0.96
Modulus 500 % 2.62 MPa (380 psi) 4.02 Mpa(700 psi)
Tensile strength 25.2 MPa (3,650 psi) 23.3 MPa (3,383 psi)
Elongation at Break >830 % 733 %
Resilience 83 % 87 %
Tear strength 45 N/mm 46.7 N/mm
Tension set 5% 8%
Wet -ARI 110 % 77 %
Weir Minerals Division 4
Modulus
- Stress to extend to specific
elongation e.g. 500%
- Significance:
- indicates stiffness due to cure
and/or reinforcement
- high modulus = > Dry abrasion
but not Wet abrasion
Weir Minerals Division 5
Tensile Strength
Stress to extend rubber to
breaking point.
Significance:
indicates property to
withstand tensile stress
Not significant as rubber
rarely expected to work in
tension;
high value has no correlation
with abrasion resistance for
both dry and wet
Weir Minerals Division 6
Elongation at Break
Extension when stretched to break
point
Significance:
indicates elastic property;
high E @ B => low Modulus or
vice versa
Correlation with resilience.
Weir Minerals Division 7
Tear Strength
Force required to initiate tearing of
standard test piece with a nick
Significance:
relevance depends on test method
Some correlation with dry abrasion
resistance and cut-growth resistance
but not wet abrasion resistance.
Weir Minerals Division 8
Hardness
A measure of stiffness or elastic
modulus
determined by resistance to
indentation
Significance
no correlation with abrasion
resistance or other
mechanical performance
Weir Minerals Division 9
Resilience
Ability of rubber to return
energy used to deform it upon
recovery
Significance
Gum rubber has higher
resilience than than those
loaded with filler
Generally, there is a
correlation between
resilience and wet abrasion
resistance
Weir Minerals Division 10
Coefficient of friction
the resistance to relative movement
between two contacting surfaces
F
Significance:
high friction properties are are
important for belting, roller, tyres and N
seals application F = μN
Weir Minerals Division 11
Abrasion Resistance: Dry
ISO test method designed to
reproduce a sliding wear mechanism
measures volume loss relative to a
reference rubber
Significance:
abrasion under service condition is
complex and involves more than
one mechanism
good indication of field
performance provided sliding
abrasion predominates
Weir Minerals Division 12
Abrasion Resistance: Wet
No recognised international test
method
Linatex test method adapted
from ISO abrader
Significance:
Field experience demonstrates
good correlation with service
performance
Not a linear relationship
between ARI & wear
Weir Minerals Division 13
PRODUCT TYPICAL PROPERTIES
Weir Minerals Division 14
Comparative Properties
Property Unit Linatex Weir 55 Krebs Rubber HD60 L60
Tensile Strength MPa 24 24 20.1 22 26
Elongation at Break % 860 613 740 582 758
Modulus 500 MPa 2 15.7 5.4 16.6 8.1
Hardness IRHD 38 55 43 63 60
Tear Strength N/mm 44 71 37 72 82
Specific Gravity g/cm3 0.96 1.056 0.998 1.098 1.106
Resilience % 83 76 - 55 72
Dry ARI % 50 (5 N) 89 - 126 80
Wet ARI % 100 45 55 56 39
Date:
Weir Minerals Division
Rubber Training
UNDERSTANDING OF
RUBBER PROPERTIES
Presented to:
Excellent
Prepared by: Minerals
Solutions
Confidential Information and Copyright
This document contains information which is protected by copyright and is confidential
to companies forming the Weir Minerals Division. It should not be copied or disclosed
(in whole or in part) to parties other than the recipient without the express written
permission of Weir Minerals Division authorized personnel.
