Nitrile Rubber
The oil- and fuel-resistant synthetic rubber behind seals, gaskets and hoses — and the standard elastomer for industrial and medical gloves worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies NBR to seal, gasket, hose and glove manufacturers worldwide, with full documentation and consistent polymer quality on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 9003-18-3
- Polymer type
- Acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer
- Acrylonitrile content
- 18-50%
- Density
- ~0.98-1.00 g/cm³
- Service temperature
- -30 °C to 120 °C
- Physical form
- Solid bales / crumb
- UN Number
- Not regulated*
- HS Code
- 4002 59
* Solid NBR is not classified as dangerous goods under standard conditions; confirm classification for any compounded or solvent-bearing grades with your regulatory affairs team.
What Nitrile Rubber is used for
Nitrile Rubber (NBR, also known as Buna-N) is a solid, oil- and fuel-resistant synthetic rubber — a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. The proportion of acrylonitrile determines the balance between oil resistance (higher acrylonitrile) and low-temperature flexibility (lower acrylonitrile). Supplied as bales or crumb, it is compounded with fillers, oils and curatives before processing.
NBR's single largest use is in oil- and fuel-resistant seals, gaskets and O-rings across automotive, industrial and aerospace equipment. Its second major use is in hydraulic and fuel-system hoses, where sustained contact with mineral oils, greases and fuels demands a resistant elastomer. NBR is also the standard material for industrial and medical examination gloves, prized for chemical resistance, puncture resistance and being latex-free.
Where it sits in the elastomer value chain
- Acrylonitrile & Butadiene the monomer feedstocks NBR is copolymerised from.
- Nitrile Rubber (this product) the copolymer base resin supplied to compounders and converters.
- Compounded NBR the filled, cured end product (moulded seal, extruded hose, dipped glove) made by the converter.
Handling character
NBR is a solid, low-hazard elastomer under normal storage and handling. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Solid bales or crumb, pale tan to brown |
| Acrylonitrile content | 18-50% (grade-dependent) |
| Mooney viscosity | Within producer specification |
| Bound acrylonitrile | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Solid elastomer (bales/crumb) |
| Density | ~0.98-1.00 g/cm³ |
| Service temperature | -30 °C to 120 °C |
| Oil/fuel resistance | Excellent |
| Ozone/weathering resistance | Poor (use EPDM grades instead) |
| Abrasion resistance | Good |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 9003-18-3 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this rubber to work
The elastomer the oil, fuel and industrial sealing industries are built on.
Oil & fuel seals, gaskets, O-rings
Resistant seals and O-rings for automotive, industrial and aerospace equipment in sustained oil/fuel contact.
- Standard & high-ACN grades
- Bulk & bale supply
- Technical desk review on request
Hydraulic & fuel-system hoses
Hose compounds for sustained contact with mineral oils, greases, fuels and hydraulic fluids.
- Automotive & industrial grades
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Industrial & medical gloves
Dipped gloves for chemical handling, food processing and medical examination use.
- Packs sized to customer volumes
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Printing & conveyor rollers
Abrasion- and solvent-resistant rollers for printing, textile and material-handling equipment.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Adhesives & footwear
Used in solvent-based adhesives, sealants and oil-resistant footwear components.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Seal, hose and glove converters running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Nitrile Rubber
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Acrylonitrile content and Mooney viscosity are critical to compounding and oil-resistance performance — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Acrylonitrile content and Mooney viscosity confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream compounding and resistance.
- Transport documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Standard and high-ACN grades both sourced. Matched precisely to your compounding and service requirement.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Bale or bulk bag — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
25-35 kg polywrapped bales
Palletised, shrink-wrapped bales for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~500-1,000 kg crumb bags
FIBC bulk bags for crumb grades sized for mid-volume compounder orders.
Full-container-load shipment
Palletised bale loads in standard containers for continuous-consumption compounding plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
A low-hazard solid elastomer — handled with standard care
Solid NBR bales and crumb are not classified as hazardous under normal conditions. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Processing hazards to manage
DustNuisance dust from crumb handling; use standard dust controls.FumesVulcanisation and processing fumes require adequate ventilation.
Low intrinsic hazard, standard industrial hygiene applies. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and compound for complete handling guidance.
Storage
Store bales and crumb in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight and ozone sources (e.g. electrical equipment, welding) to avoid pre-cure surface degradation.
Handling
Use standard PPE (gloves, dust protection) for bale and crumb handling. Provide local exhaust ventilation at compounding, extrusion and vulcanisation stations.
Transport
Solid NBR is generally not regulated as dangerous goods. We confirm and document classification for any compounded, oil-extended or solvent-bearing grade specific to your shipment.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Acrylonitrile content and Mooney viscosity confirmed against your compound before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How NBR is made
NBR is produced industrially by the emulsion copolymerisation of acrylonitrile and butadiene, a long-established route in elastomer chemistry. The ratio of the two monomers is set to balance oil resistance against low-temperature flexibility for the target application.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Nitrile-diene copolymer |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Nitrile (acrylonitrile) and residual diene unsaturation |
| Reactivity | Sulphur or peroxide vulcanisation at diene sites |
| Related compounds | Acrylonitrile, Butadiene (feedstocks), HNBR, XNBR (related grades) |
Explore the wider elastomer range
Nitrile Rubber, answered
What is Nitrile Rubber used for?
Why is NBR chosen for oil and fuel contact?
Is Nitrile Rubber hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Need a related elastomer? See our EPDM Rubber and Butyl Rubber pages.
Get a quote on Nitrile Rubber today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.