Choosing the Right Material: Insights into Elbex’s Diverse Rubber and Plastic Options for Extrusions

ELBEX • August 7, 2023

At Elbex, we’re pleased to offer several types of rubber compounds to help our customers control costs and achieve proper performance for their applications. Here’s a closer look at the elastomers we offer for our extrusions.


Silicone Rubber

Silicone rubber is highly resistant to extreme temperatures, while also offering good chemical stability and fire resistance. Its weathering and UV resistance mean it is often used for outdoor applications like window seals.


EPDM

EPDM is a very flexible elastomer that adheres well to metals while also offering low electrical conductivity and excellent waterproofing capabilities. EPDM is often used for flat roofing, as well as for HVAC applications. However, it has poor resistance to oils and petroleum-based fuels.


Polyisoprene

Polyisoprene is noted for having excellent elasticity, as well as strong tear and abrasion resistance thanks to its consistent and homogenous structure. It is soft and non-allergenic, and is often used for items ranging from tires to baby products.


Neoprene

Neoprene offers strong resistance to water, chemicals, heat, flames, solvent, sunlight, and weather. It is used in a wide variety of products, including gaskets, O-rings, seals, tubing, and more.


Nitrile

Common nitrile applications include automotive components such as gaskets, oil seals, O-rings, and transmission belts. Nitrile has excellent abrasion and tear resistance, and good resistance to water and oil. However, it has poor resistance to UV, ozone, and extreme temperatures.


SBR

SBR also offers good impact strength, abrasion resistance, and high tensile strength. However, it has poor resistance to chemicals and oils. It is a widely used “general purpose” elastomer that offers lower costs and is used for a variety of rubber products (including shoe soles and tires).


Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is noted for being durable and resilient, resistant to abrasions, and excellent for dampening vibrations. However, it performs poorly when exposed to chemicals and petroleum products, and does not do well in outdoor applications.


With custom in-house batch mixing, our team is able to cater to specific client requirements. We can also use our knowledge and experience to answer your questions and help you make the right selection for your project needs. To learn more,
contact us today.

By Melissa Nichols September 11, 2026
Windows are more than just glass. Even though the glass gets all the attention, proper support and sealing around the edges is just as essential for keeping windows clear, draft-free, and secure. At Elbex, we specialize in window rubber seals, glazing gaskets, and rubber setting blocks that help you accomplish exactly that for both residential and industrial window installations. Cushioning and Support: The Role of Rubber Setting Blocks Rubber setting blocks have a subtle design, but a powerful role. By cushioning the glass inside the window frame, they keep the glass from coming into direct contact with metal or wood. Setting blocks also aid in leveling the glass and distributing its weight evenly. This prevents sagging and stress cracks that might otherwise occur with age. They also further protect the window through their vibration dampening capabilities, which allows them to absorb everyday bumps and environmental vibrations. Weather Resistance: Shielding Against the Elements While rubber setting blocks protect the glass, window rubber seals and glazing gaskets are what help the window do its job. These rubber seals wrap the edges of the glass to form a barrier that blocks rain, wind, and humidity. This is essential for preventing drafts or water damage — especially the hidden mold and structural decay that can happen if water enters wall cavities. Tight, well-fitted window seals also reduce heating and cooling bills for building owners for immediate ROI. Flawless Performance Through Proper Installation Even the best rubber profile requires proper installation and the right dimensions to do its job. At Elbex, we produce customized, easy-to-install profiles tailored to your exact window specifications. This ensures that setting blocks, seals, and gaskets will seamlessly fit channels to eliminate gaps and streamline installation. Long-lasting, dependable window performance combines quality glass with strong setting blocks, durable glazing gaskets, and tight weather seals. Elbex makes this possible with high-quality, custom solutions. Contact us today to request a quote or discuss your custom window sealing requirements.
By Melissa Nichols August 28, 2026
No matter what your company produces, modern manufacturing and industrial facilities face a common challenge: constant structural vibrations and movement from heavy machinery and other aspects of your daily operations. Over time, these movements can cause significant wear and tear to equipment and the structure itself. This is where Elbex and our industrial rubber extrusions come in. As a premier manufacturer of high-performance industrial gaskets and seals, as well as other extrusions, we can help protect your equipment and your overall operations. Here’s how. Defeating the Elements: Withstanding Extreme Environments Industrial plants present an extreme environment that can accelerate structural damage over time. For example, dramatic temperature changes within the facility and exposure to direct sunlight can cause damage from thermal expansion and contraction. Vibrations from equipment can cause even more wear and tear. Because of this, a primary function of our extruded rubber expansion joints is to absorb the expanding and contracting movements of factory walls, piping systems, and architectural facades. These extrusions can also absorb vibrations and other movements. This reduces pressure on the protected elements, extending their lifespan and helping to prevent future maintenance problems. The Toolbox of Industrial Solutions: Expansion Joints, Glazing, and Bumpers At Elbex, we manufacture a variety of rubber extrusions tailored for modern manufacturing. For example, our extruded rubber expansion joints eliminate structural fracture risks in industrial piping systems by minimizing movement and vibrations. Extruded rubber glazing systems set glass and panels, forming extra-tight environmental seals to help block out noise, air, and moisture. Our extruded rubber bumpers are also quite popular. Custom manufactured rubber buffers made from heavy-duty EPDM form an abrasion-resistant cushion that protects expensive equipment from direct physical impacts — a common risk in factories. Versatile Geometry: D-Sections, Bulb Seals, and Ribbed Profiles Our versatile profiles ensure that we’ll be able to assist with heavy machinery vibration dampening in any location. For example, custom D-sections help seal surfaces and fill voids, making use of pressure-sensitive adhesives for quick positioning. If you’re looking for maximum sealing power, bulb seals (or trim seals) can fit cleanly into tracks to insulate industrial hatches and doors. And compressible ribbed profiles have the ability to compress smoothly to create a tight barrier between two surfaces. Value-Added Post-Production Customization At Elbex, we’re also able to help with additional customization options after manufacturing your industrial rubber extrusions. For example, while our profiles are manufactured in continuous lengths, we can utilize high-speed automated cutting to match your specific sizing requirements. Other post-production capabilities include vulcanized splicing, punching, printing, and specialized taping. Whatever you need, we’ll help you get the right look and performance. Don’t let vibration and environmental stress degrade your industrial equipment — or your facility itself! By working with Elbex, you’ll get the professional, personalized support you need to meet your exact specifications. Contact us today to get started.
By Melissa Nichols August 21, 2026
Extruded rubber tubing, or hollow tubes, are incredibly versatile. They’re used across industries for protective sleeves, gaskets, essential drainage capacities, and more. Of course, this means that you can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to industrial hollow rubber profiles. At Elbex, we believe in producing custom rubber sleeves and gaskets that will meet your exact specification requirements for lasting performance. Here’s what you need to know. Navigating Varied Fields: Multi-Industry Tubing Applications Extruded rubber tubing is used across many industries, each with unique performance specifications. For example, in automotive engineering, custom rubber tubing is used in everything from door and window seals and acoustic covers to hinge covers and cushions for cooling systems. In mass transit systems, these components face even stricter environmental demands to ensure they maintain passenger comfort and seal out water. Of course, flexible rubber drainage tubing is also a must at industrial facilities. Factories typically use several tube sizes and wall thicknesses to safely manage drainage and chemical bypass for a variety of materials. The right specifications make all the difference for long-term performance. The Regulatory Landscape: Secure Sealing for Water Control Systems Automotive and water system rubber components are often more important than they first appear. For example, when a municipal treatment facility neglects its gaskets and seals, this can easily lead to leaks and other system issues that cause NSF compliance problems. Because of this, Elbex assists municipal facility operators in choosing regulatory-compliant materials (such as NSF-61 approved compounds) for applications like drinking water systems and filtration gaskets. Our goal is to ensure safe, dependable performance in your finished systems. The Engineering Resources Behind Your Project At Elbex, we can help with much more than material selection for your extruded rubber tubing. By aligning our expert insights with your primary goals, we offer a collaborative approach to meet your technical goals. For example, with on-site custom tooling and die design services, we can quickly accommodate unique configurations for your project. We can also help you protect your bottom line by balancing performance requirements with cost-effective choices. When needed, we also provide design assistance (including a library of technical resources and data sheets) to help you troubleshoot previous operational issues or find workarounds for current design hurdles. Whether you need basic drainage or specialized automotive sleeves, the success of your hollow profiles depends on choosing an experienced manufacturing partner. Contact Elbex today to learn more about how we can help ensure your next extruded rubber tubing project goes right.