Rubber Sheet Sizes This guide is aimed at all parties interested in purchasing rubber materials in sheet form; this could include engineers, maintenance, buyers, homeowners, builders and other tradesmen. What is sheet rubber? Rubber, in one of its simplest forms, is manufactured and sold in vulcanised sheets of standard sizes (based usually around the old imperial standard sizes). However, depending on the grade and form of material, different levels of availability can apply. Commercial solid rubber sheeting is manufactured in a continuous length and is sold on rolls, usually 5m or 10m long depending on the thickness of the material. There are few, if any, UK manufacturers producing commercial grades of rubber sheet; they are largely produced overseas and sold through a chain of UK distributors such as Martin s Rubber, who stock the core materials. Commercial grades: These commercial grades are fine for standard products where material properties are not of great importance; the manufacturers use fillers to bulk out the material, hence the prices being reduced in comparison to higher grades of material. We stock most commercial grades of rubber in a variety of thicknesses, which we can cut from the roll and supply in shorter lengths or as finished items. Military and aerospace grades: There are a number of MIL specification rubbers and DTD specifications cited on military drawings; many of these are now obsolete and we can offer alternatives or advise on suitable equivalent materials where the need arises. These original grades of material will not be listed as standard items but commercial grades may be acceptable in some instances. Special grades: Rubber sheet is available to British Standards (BS2751, BS2752, BS1154, and so on); these are manufactured to meet specific property requirements and may be called for in particular applications. The advantage of these materials is that although the recipe of ingredients may change according to the original source, you will know that they consistently meet the requirements laid out in the British Standards guide.
Other types of specialist grades of sheet rubber available include food grade materials, WRC (water research centre) approved rubbers, materials designed for electrical conductivity or resistance. Outside of the standard commercial grades of material also exist slight variations on these; very hard or very soft grades of rubber, very thin gauge sheets for specialist applications, rubber with insertions of various types for added strength or for use in diaphragms, as well as a variety of colours dependant on the material selection. One of the key points to note about rubber is that there are standard grades available which will be suitable for many commercial applications, but once you move beyond this, different types of rubber will offer different property advantages; the key is to understanding your key requirements as early on in your selection process as possible. For further information on material selection, please see our guide. What are my choices for purchasing? There are two ways of approaching this question; firstly, given the right budget, almost any combination of size and properties is available however, there is usually something on the market available to suit the majority of applications. Be sure to establish what your priorities are, and then look for the most appropriate solution, starting with the commercially available materials. Stocked materials: We stock a range of rubber sheet materials, including specialist grades such as food grade, BS specified grades, insertion rubbers and electrically resistant materials in a range of thicknesses. For a guide to what we stock, please see our stocking list, which will provide an idea of what we usually keep on the shelf. Non-stocked materials: Many of the materials that we do not hold on the shelf are available at reasonable notice (7-10 days) and with a standard MOQ, such as a roll (or a sheet, where applicable); for details please contact a member of staff who will be able to assist you. Made-to-order sheet: If you are after a very specialist grade of material for which a standard material is not available, we have standard sheet moulds available and can mould these for you in sizes of 12 x 12. Alternatively, if the final item you require has a geometry (for example, a flat washer), we can manufacture a tool to produce the finished item and supply to spec.
What application can I use sheet rubber for? Sheets of rubber are versatile, and many people buy them for just that reason; they can be hand cut into gaskets, washers and pads. Rubber sheet can be used as protective surface covering and as linings for a number of applications. Can you cut my rubber sheet into a finished product for me? Yes, we have the facility to cut sheet in a number of ways: Hydraulic press We produce formes using metal blades set into the geometry of your final shape (often used for gaskets, pads and washers). These tools allow for consistent, repeatable products. If large quantities are required, we can make the cutter tools with multiple cavities to reduce the time taken and therefore the cost. Stripping machine We can strip sheet rubber into lengths for you. The thickness and the type of material will dictate how narrow and how long we can produce the strip, but if you contact us for further details we will advise you. Hand cutting We can produce hand cut items in lower quantities from templates, samples or drawings; we often produce very large gaskets (for example, tank door gaskets) in this way. Can you supply foam sponge into sheet form? Yes, please contact us for further information. Can you supply cork, paper and other gasket materials into sheet foam? Yes, please contacts for further information.
Can you duplicate a sample if I send you one? Yes; send us a material sample and we will assess it and offer an equivalent or the nearest currently option. If you want a finished product duplicated, send it to us with details of the quantities, details of the application and other factors such as quality levels (tolerances, finish, etc.) and we will offer a quotation in the most cost-effective manufacturing method available to us. Can rubber sheet be glued or supplied with adhesive backing? Solid rubbers naturally contain oils, which are not necessarily conducive to applying adhesives. We offer a range of adhesives which can be used to stick rubbers, but we tend not to offer adhesive backing on solid rubbers as it tends to provide a weaker bond. Can you fabricate finished products for me? Yes; in addition to punching and cutting rubber sheet, we can also fabricate items. A good example of products that we manufacture regularly in this way is mast boots, which are used regularly in the marine trade. Similarly, sleeves for a variety of application can be rolled and secured using a vulcanised joint. What are the benefits of using sheet rubber? Gram for gram, this is one of the most cost-effective way of purchasing vulcanised rubber in commercial grades as it produced in large quantities using efficient manufacturing processes. Rubber sheet is versatile and can be fabricated for use in a number of applications. In line with BS ISO 2230, the shelf life of all rubbers is at least 5 years plus an additional 2 years on inspection; in many cases, the shelf life is double this. A sheet or roll of rubber can be kept in stock and pieces cut off and used as required. There are a number of commercial grades available to suit most applications; with the right information, we should be able to find one to suit you from our stock list. Stocked materials can be supplied within 2-3 days, sooner if we are aware that it is urgent when we quote the job. If we hold a cutting tool for you, we can punch or strip items from sheet within 5-7 days, again sooner on request.
Conclusion Sheet rubber is, in the main, an off the shelf product, and as such is available at short notice, is cost-effective and can be versatile in its application. If you can t see what you believe you require, please contact us for further information it may be that we have what you need but it is not listed as a standard item. You can telephone our sales team on 023 8022 6330, email us at sales@martinsrubber.co.uk. Send any samples to: Sales Martins Rubber Company Limited Orchard Place Southampton SO14 3PE