NBR (Nitrile Rubber) vs PE-HD: 0% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
NBR (Nitrile Rubber) vs PE-HD
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
NBR (Nitrile Rubber)
Nitrile butadiene rubber (Buna-N) — THE oil and fuel resistant elastomer. ACN content (18-50%) determines the oil resistance vs low-temp flexibility tradeoff. Higher ACN = better oil resistance but stiffer at low temp. The most widely used seal material worldwide. Used for O-rings, fuel hoses, gaskets, hydraulic seals, oil seals, and nitrile gloves. Not suitable for ozone, UV, or polar solvents (ketones, esters). HNBR variant for higher heat resistance.
PE-HD
High Density Polyethylene — the highest-volume plastic globally (>30M tons/year). Linear chains with minimal branching give higher density and strength vs LDPE. Excellent chemical resistance, FDA/food-safe, very low moisture absorption, and good impact resistance down to -30°C. Used for pipes, bottles, containers, fuel tanks, cutting boards, playground equipment, and geomembranes.
| NBR (Nitrile Rubber) | PE-HD | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | — | — |
| Category | Polymers | Polymers |
| Standard | ISO 37 | ISO 1872 |
Chemical composition (wt%) — Pro
| Element | NBR (Nitrile Rubber) | PE-HD | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butadiene | 50–82% | — | — |
| Acrylonitrile (ACN) | 18–50% | — | — |
| Base Polymer (Polyethylene) | — | 99.5–99.9% | — |
Mechanical properties — Pro
| Property | NBR (Nitrile Rubber) | PE-HD | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 7–24 | 25–38 | MPa |
| Elongation | 200–600 | 100–1000 | % |
| hardness_shore_a | 40–90 | — | Shore A |
| Density | |||
| continuous_service_temp | |||
| Yield Strength | |||
| Elastic Modulus | |||
| Melting Point | |||
| Glass Transition Temp (Tg) | |||
| Water Absorption (24h) |
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NBR (Nitrile Rubber) and PE-HD have significantly different compositions (0% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NBR (Nitrile Rubber) the same as PE-HD?
NBR (Nitrile Rubber) and PE-HD have a 0% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace NBR (Nitrile Rubber) with PE-HD?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (0% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between NBR (Nitrile Rubber) and PE-HD?
The main differences are in the following elements: overall alloying content. NBR (Nitrile Rubber) is a Polymers grade, while PE-HD is a Polymers grade.
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Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.