This guide is for buyers and store keepers who meet short material codes on a quote, a drawing or an old part label. Each code below is spelled out in plain words, with one line on how our catalogue describes it. Where a longer guide exists, we link to it.
Rubber codes
Each entry gives the name in general terms, then our catalogue wording. For any real job, tell us the conditions and we will confirm the material.
- NBR: short for nitrile butadiene rubber, and the same material as "nitrile". Our catalogue lists nitrile as oil-resistant NBR sheet for workshops, gaskets, pads and fuel-related environments. See nitrile and neoprene sheet for workshops.
- EPDM: short for ethylene propylene diene monomer. Our catalogue lists EPDM as weather-resistant sheet for outdoor sealing, waterproofing and insulation work. See EPDM sheet for outdoor sealing.
- FKM or Viton: FKM is the code for fluoroelastomer. Viton is a trade name for the same family. Our catalogue lists Viton sheet for chemical, heat and oil-resistant industrial applications. See Viton against nitrile.
- NR: natural rubber, the kind made from the sap of the rubber tree.
- SBR: styrene butadiene rubber, a synthetic rubber. Our catalogue lists NR and SBR together as general-purpose sheet for mats, pads, lining and protection. See NR and SBR sheet for mats and pads.
- CR or neoprene: CR is short for chloroprene rubber. Neoprene is the common trade name for it. Our catalogue lists neoprene as balanced sheet with good weather, oil and abrasion resistance for industrial use.
Plastic and coating codes
- PTFE: short for polytetrafluoroethylene. Teflon is a trade name for it, and our catalogue uses both names. It lists the rod and sheet as low-friction PTFE material for chemical resistance, insulation, guide parts and machine components. See nylon or PTFE: which to use.
- PU: short for polyurethane. Our catalogue lists PU coating as coating support for wear protection, grip, impact resistance and surface durability. See PU and rubber coating for rollers and parts.
- Nylon: a name, not a code. Our catalogue lists it beside PTFE. It describes nylon rod and sheet as strong engineering plastic profiles suitable for machining, rollers, spacers and wear parts.
Names that point to the same family
A drawing and our catalogue may use different names for one material, for example nitrile and NBR, or Teflon and PTFE. Write both in your enquiry. That removes a round of questions.
Quotes and labels sometimes carry codes we have not covered here. Do not guess what they mean. Copy the code exactly as it is written and tell us where you found it. A photo of the label or the old part is enough.
We also do not turn a code into a performance promise. A code names a family of material. Two sheets with the same code can still differ, so we confirm the product against the job.
Write the material the way your drawing does
When you ask for a quote, give the full name and the short code together, for example "nitrile (NBR) sheet". If you only know the old part and not its material, say so. Then describe what the part touches, such as oil, fuel, chemicals, heat, weather or wear.
A code on a quote line may also come with a size or a thickness. Keep those with the code when you copy it, because a code alone does not give the size. If a line has two codes, such as "NR / SBR", write both. That is how our catalogue lists that sheet.
You can see the full list of materials on our industrial materials page.
What to send us for a quote
- The material name or code, copied exactly from the drawing, label or old quote.
- Where you found the code, and a photo of it if you can.
- The product type: sheet, rod, coating or another form.
- What the part touches: oil, fuel, chemicals, heat, weather or wear.
- The size and the quantity you need.
- A photo or drawing of the old part, if there is one.
Send the enquiry through our website or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm what matches the code.