SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber, red rubber, or Buna-S) is a synthetic material used as a natural rubber substitute in different applications and products. SYNTHETIC RUBBER PRODUCTS’s SBR gaskets are also a common component in HVAC and plumbing applications.

Depending on your ultimate project goal, SBR could be the right material for you. Specific properties, such as age resistance, help make SBR gaskets long-lasting, but a lack of other resistances could make them unsuitable for other applications. 

PROS

• Excellent abrasion resistance and tensile strength
• Resists cracks and other aging characteristics
• Water-resistant 

SBR offers many of the same benefits as natural rubber at a lower price point, making it highly appealing and common for manufacturers to use. 

Note that it has a moderate temperature range for a gasket, from about -67°F to 158°F (-55°C to 70°C), making it suitable for some, but not all, high-temperature projects

CONS

• Lack of UV and ozone resistance
• Doesn’t hold up against chemicals, strong acids, greases, or fats
• Hardens with excessive heat and becomes brittle

Despite SBR’s tensile strength, it’s still vulnerable to several weathering factors like ozone. Using an SBR gasket in a heavy ozone situation will result in cracks and potential seal failure, making it unsuitable for certain outdoor and high-voltage applications.

Another disadvantage of SBR gaskets is that they lack resistance to oils and fuels such as gasoline or other hydrocarbon solvents. Unlike nitrile rubber gaskets, which thrive under this type of application, SBR gaskets will degrade.