Nitrile Rubber (NBR)
The Nitrile (NBR) synthetic rubber supplied by Chelora Chemicals — an oil- and fuel-resistant elastomer used across seals, hoses and gloves — exported from Indonesia as raw bale with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Nitrile Rubber is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the elastomer's two-monomer chemistry, how acrylonitrile content trades flexibility for oil resistance, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Nitrile Rubber is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile, where the polar nitrile (cyano) group on the acrylonitrile unit is what gives the rubber its single defining property: outstanding resistance to swelling in mineral oils, fuels and many other non-polar hydrocarbon fluids that would rapidly degrade most other elastomers. Acrylonitrile content, typically reported as a percentage, is the main lever producers use to tune the rubber: raising ACN content improves oil and fuel resistance and abrasion resistance further still, but at the cost of low-temperature flexibility, since a higher proportion of the polar, rigid acrylonitrile unit stiffens the polymer and raises its glass transition temperature.
As supplied, raw NBR is a pale tan to dark brown, flexible solid, shipped in standard bales for compounding. Because the butadiene portion of the backbone retains the same carbon-carbon double bonds found in general-purpose diene rubbers, NBR vulcanises through conventional sulphur-cure chemistry, but shares those rubbers' comparatively limited resistance to ozone and weathering unless specifically compounded with protective additives.
Where it fits in the value chain
NBR's oil and fuel resistance makes it the standard choice wherever a rubber part is in sustained contact with mineral oil, hydraulic fluid or fuel: O-rings, gaskets and seals throughout the automotive and industrial machinery sectors, fuel-system hose and hydraulic hose, and oil-resistant conveyor belting. A separate, very large consumer volume goes into disposable nitrile examination and industrial gloves, where its combination of puncture resistance, chemical resistance and the absence of the natural-rubber latex allergens found in older glove materials has made it the dominant glove elastomer worldwide.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers NBR across low, medium and high acrylonitrile-content grades, in both hot- and cold-polymerised variants, to suit the specific oil-resistance/flexibility balance each application needs. Each grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis covering Mooney viscosity and acrylonitrile content.
How Nitrile Rubber is produced
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Nitrile Rubber is produced by emulsion copolymerisation of butadiene and acrylonitrile: the two monomers are dispersed in water with a surfactant and polymerised under a free-radical initiator, either at an elevated temperature (hot polymerisation, giving a more branched structure suited to general-purpose grades) or at a reduced temperature with a redox initiator system (cold polymerisation, giving a more linear structure with somewhat better physical properties, used for higher-performance grades). The acrylonitrile-to-butadiene feed ratio is the main process variable, carried through essentially unchanged into the finished copolymer's ACN content.
After polymerisation, the rubber latex is coagulated, typically with an acid or salt solution, then washed, dried and baled. Residual acrylonitrile monomer, a hazardous substance in its own right, is stripped from the latex before coagulation and checked as a trace-level specification on the finished bale.
Industries and processes that use it
Nitrile Rubber is consumed across automotive and industrial seals, fuel and hydraulic hose, oil-resistant belting and disposable gloves. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
O-Rings, Gaskets & Seals
Compounded and moulded into O-rings, gaskets and shaft seals throughout automotive and industrial machinery wherever sustained oil or fuel contact rules out other elastomers.
Fuel & Hydraulic Hose
Extruded as the inner tube of fuel lines and hydraulic hose, where swelling resistance in the conveyed fluid is the primary selection criterion.
Oil-Resistant Conveyor Belting
Compounded into conveyor belt covers for applications handling oily or greasy materials, where general-purpose rubber covers would rapidly degrade.
Disposable Examination & Industrial Gloves
Dipped from latex into disposable gloves for medical, food-service and industrial use, valued for puncture and chemical resistance without natural-rubber latex allergens.
How the rubber is typically compounded forward
The polar acrylonitrile content and the reactive diene backbone govern almost all of NBR's further compounding behaviour. The categories below account for most of the ways it is converted into a finished rubber product.
Compounding
The raw polymer is mixed with carbon black or mineral filler, plasticiser and a curing system, with ACN content selected first since it governs the base oil-resistance/flexibility performance before any compounding begins.
Sulphur Vulcanisation
The butadiene-derived double bonds along the backbone crosslink under a conventional sulphur cure system, converting the soft, uncured compound into an elastic, dimensionally stable rubber part.
Latex Dipping
For glove and dip-moulded goods, NBR latex (rather than coagulated bale rubber) is dipped directly onto a former, dried and cured, without a separate mechanical mixing step.
Hydrogenation (HNBR)
Selective hydrogenation of the remaining backbone double bonds produces hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), a higher-performance derivative with substantially improved heat and ozone resistance over standard NBR.
Nitrile Rubber against its feedstock monomer and a related synthetic rubber we supply
Buyers sourcing NBR often also need the butadiene monomer it is built from, or a related synthetic rubber for a weathering-critical rather than oil-critical application. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrile Rubber (NBR) | 9003-18-3 | Butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer | The product on this page — an oil- and fuel-resistant synthetic elastomer. |
| 1,3-Butadiene | 106-99-0 | Diene monomer | One of the two monomers this elastomer is copolymerised from — see its product page. |
| EPDM Rubber | 25038-36-2 | Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer | A related synthetic rubber chosen instead where weathering resistance, rather than oil resistance, is the priority — see its product page. |
| Butyl Rubber | 9010-85-9 | Isobutylene-isoprene copolymer | A related synthetic rubber valued for gas-impermeability rather than oil resistance — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and processing specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Nitrile Rubber.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Not classified as hazardous under GHS in raw bale form.
Combustible; store away from open flame and other ignition sources.
Trace residual acrylonitrile monomer, a recognised hazardous substance in its unreacted form, is controlled and checked on every batch.
Compounding and curing operations generate process fumes and particulate; ensure adequate ventilation and extraction at the mixing mill or press.
Standard gloves and eye protection are sufficient for routine handling of the raw bale.
Sulphur-cure systems generate characteristic odours and fumes during vulcanisation; ensure extraction at the cure press.
Not classified; refer to the batch MSDS for grade-specific guidance, including residual monomer data.
This product has a low hazard profile in its raw bale form and is not classified as hazardous under GHS. Residual acrylonitrile monomer, recognised as hazardous in its unreacted form, is controlled to a low trace level and reported on every batch certificate. The main handling precautions concern standard combustible-solid storage practice and adequate ventilation during compounding and curing. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight and away from ozone-generating equipment and strong oxidising agents, since the retained butadiene-derived unsaturation leaves raw NBR, like other diene rubbers, susceptible to some ageing in storage if conditions are poor. Keep bales segregated by ACN grade to avoid mix-ups during compounding. Re-check Mooney viscosity on a batch held past its retest date before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Nitrile Rubber (NBR) leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Nitrile Rubber used for?+
02What does NBR stand for and what is it made from?+
03How is Nitrile Rubber produced?+
04What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Nitrile Rubber hazardous?+
06Why does raising acrylonitrile content improve oil resistance but reduce flexibility?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the butadiene monomer and related synthetic rubbers as well?+
Need Nitrile Rubber on spec, on time?
Send us your required acrylonitrile content, polymerisation route (hot/cold), application and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.