In manufacturing plants and facilities, rubber hoses are used in a variety of applications. In some cases, the type of rubber that the hose is made of is not suitable to the application it is being used for, resulting in potential safety risks for workers and equipment. The purpose of this article is to help the reader to determine the appropriate rubber compound for the application that is required. 

There are plenty of rubber types on the market. The most commonly used are Natural Rubber (NR), Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Nitrile Rubber (NBR), Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomers Rubber (EPDM) and Neoprene/Chloroprene Rubber (CR). For this article, we will base our discussion solely on these five types. Each of them has unique traits that make them suitable to a specific application.

Many factors must be considered when choosing the right material to use, including environmental factors—such as extreme temperatures, exposure to oils, fluids and chemicals—combined with physical requirements such as strength, flexibility and impact resistance. Where possible, speak to an expert to help you choose the right one.