Advantages of Using Butyl

ELBEX • September 6, 2019
Butyl

There are several types of elastomers which can be used to manufacture rubber extrusions. One of those elastomers is butyl rubber, commonly referred to as butyl. 

Butyl Properties 

Butyl is a common elastomer that has been in commercial use since the 1940s. The ability for butyl to retain air and its flex properties made it ideal for tire inner tubes as its first major application.

Butyl rubber is heavily resistant to gas and moisture permeation. It is also resistant to oxygenated solvents, alkalis, flexing, and abrasion, making it favorable for certain applications. Butyl rubbers can provide high energy absorption and electrical isolation performance as well.

Butyl is also highly resistant to sunlight, ozone, heat aging, animal and vegetable oils, ammonia, and countless other chemicals. The molecular structure of butyl can even be oriented to resist stress. 

Limitations

Elastomers utilizing butyl have their limits, however. Butyl rubber is difficult to handle during manufacturing because it has a tendency to trap air, blister, and creep. The flame resistance is poor and it is not recommended for use with petroleum oils, fluids, or other solvents. 

Applications using Butyl

The most common uses for butyl rubber include vacuum seals, inner liners on tires, and inner tubes. Butyl can also be used in hydraulic applications where synthetic fluids are used. 

If you feel that butyl may be a viable elastomer for your next project, contact ELBEX today. Our design team can help you decide if this elastomer is right for the job.

By David Garman September 12, 2025
Across industries, reliable seals that can handle water, air, and temperature fluctuations are essential. As an expert manufacturer of rubber bulb seals and specialized silicone rubber seals that can be used as bulb gasket seals, Elbex helps you create superior barriers for a wide range of manufacturing applications. The Unique Design and Sealing Power of Bulb Seals Bulb seals get their name from their unique design, which includes a mounting mechanism (base), as well as a compressible bulb section. After it has been put in place, the bulb section compresses against the surrounding surface area to fill a void or gap. This creates a tight, powerful seal that blocks air, dust, water, and other contaminants. Elbex's Expertise in Custom Bulb Seal Manufacturing Elbex’s custom bulb seal manufacturing expertise ensures that your rubber bulb seals meet all performance requirements for strong, durable results. This starts with our knowledge of which rubber materials work best for different applications and environmental factors. For example, silicone rubber seals work well for applications requiring extreme temperature resistance, flexibility, and resistance to environmental factors. Our custom design and engineering capabilities enable us to accommodate nearly any application, ensuring a perfect fit and reliable performance based on your unique specifications. Comprehensive quality control further ensures that your rubber seal will meet and even exceed expectations, achieving proper compression while resisting issues like compression set. Versatile Applications Across Industries Rubber seals are found in many different industries, highlighting the versatile nature of these components. For example, rubber seals are most commonly used around doors, windows, and hatches to provide a tight seal against air, sound, and dust (including in vehicles and appliances). However, bulb gasket seals are also used to create tight water barriers in marine applications, outdoor electrical enclosures, and storage compartments. Silicone rubber seals can also help contain extreme heat or cold in industrial mixing, processing, and food service applications. Why Elbex is the Premier Choice for Bulb Seals If you need bulb seals, make Elbex your manufacturing partner. With unmatched customization options, comprehensive material expertise and engineering support, and guaranteed quality, our team will help your application succeed. Contact us today to discuss your specific application needs and learn more about the sealing power of our custom-designed seals.
By David Garman August 29, 2025
Today’s appliances need to perform at a higher standard than ever – and seals and gaskets play a vital role in making that possible. Specialized appliance gaskets and appliance seals deliver reliable barriers against heat, cold, and other hazards. As a leading provider of high-quality appliance rubber extrusions, Elbex’s custom extruded rubber gaskets for appliance manufacturing will provide the performance you need. The Essential Role of Rubber in Appliance Performance Gaskets and seals create a reliable barrier that keeps appliances functioning properly. These barriers fill a wide range of roles, such as preventing leaks in washing machines and dishwashers, helping refrigerators and ovens maintain desired temperatures, and securing components and eliminating vibrations in washers and dryers. Notably, these extrusions must be able to perform with exposure to water, extreme heat and cold, and other hazards. Elbex's Expertise in Custom Appliance Extrusions At Elbex, our team takes a collaborative approach in creating custom appliance extrusions for your business. We draw on our deep knowledge of different rubber compounds to select materials that meet industry and regulatory standards. For example, while silicone is best for high heat/food contact, EPDM is better for weather/water resistance. Materials expertise is paired with an advanced extrusion process, which forces uncured rubber through custom dies to create precise, fully cured profiles. Rather than carrying an inventory, we custom-manufacture every product to meet your exact requirements, ensuring superior stability and performance. Versatile Appliance Applications & Custom Profiles Appliance gaskets (which are static surfaces) and seals (which are moving parts) fill many roles in the appliance industry. Formed hoses and water resistance seals in washing machines and dishwashers, air barrier seals in refrigerators and ovens, and even blender lid seals provide necessary containment for appliances. Gaskets and seals can also eliminate vibrations and secure components. Our custom profile options include extruded gaskets and seals, bulb seals, custom extruded rubber d-sections, and custom extruded ribbed profiles. Each of these options can aid with filling voids, creating seals/barriers, reducing vibration, and more. Elbex's Unwavering Support and Resources Working with Elbex means you get a team that is committed to the success of its customers. Our team is ready to assist right from the start, offering guidance on materials selection and design assistance (including additional technical resources) to ensure the design and finished components meet your performance requirements. By doing all custom tooling in-house, we can also deliver our results faster and cheaper than if the work was outsourced, even while maintaining extremely high quality standards.  With our extensive expertise in high-quality appliance rubber extrusions, including appliance gaskets and appliance seals, you can count on Elbex to help ensure that your appliances are reliable and compliant for your own customers. To learn more about our custom extruded rubber gaskets for appliance manufacturing, contact us today.
By David Garman August 22, 2025
This is a subtitle for your new post