Applications – these are the sectors in which RADO compounds are used

Rubber compounds and the products made from them have become an integral part of daily life. From technical rubber items such as profiles, seals and hoses, through to medical/sanitary rubber products, shoes and coatings for protective clothing, there are many applications that would be unthinkable without appropriate compounds. In the following sections we take a closer look at the possible uses for our products.

Automotive – rubber compounds driving mobility

When people associate rubber with cars, they mostly think of tyres. But an average car contains so many other rubber parts that together they make up ⅓ of the total proportion of elastomers (including tyres).

Material properties of RADO compounds

With its in-house expertise and decades of experience, RADO is able to produce rubber compounds that meet all the requirements of the automotive sector. These include, in particular, resistance to oils, fuels, heat and general effects of temperature. Our compounds based on fluoro rubber, which we manufacture on special, dedicated production lines, are especially suitable for these applications.

Uses of RADO mixes in the automotive sector

RADO compounds are predominantly used in powertrain seals but also for media transport applications and for damping and mounts (vibration isolation). Typical components include:

  • Fuel lines
  • Turbocharger hoses
  • Fuel diaphragms
  • Cylinder head gaskets

Industrial applications – rubber compounds as technical materials and machine components

Extensible, oil-resistant and durable – rubber compounds from RADO have many properties that make them ideal for use in industry.

Benefits of our rubber compounds

RADO's primary focus is on fluorocarbon and silicone rubber compounds. Depending on their formulation, fluorocarbon rubber compounds are exceptionally thermally stable, chemically stable, resistant to fats and mineral oils and resistant to weathering, oxygen, ozone and ageing influences.

Silicone rubber compounds have a long service life, even in adverse environments (high operating temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, ozone), good electrical insulating properties and good flow characteristics. They are elastic, biocompatible, tasteless and odourless and cover a broad temperature range without becoming too soft or brittle.

Use of RADO compounds in industry

Working closely with our customers, RADO's experienced chemists develop compounds that are ideally suited to the sometimes extreme conditions prevailing in different sectors of industry. Key areas of use for our rubber compounds include:

  • Pump seals
  • Stators
  • Moulded parts
  • Roller coatings
  • Rubber-metal parts
  • Couplings for shipbuilding

Cable industry – rubber-based cable sheaths

One of the most important elements of a cable is its insulation. This has to be just as reliable and high-quality as the conductor material inside it. As an expert manufacturer and supplier of rubber compounds, RADO can supply the right insulating material for your products.

Silicone rubber compounds – the ideal cable insulation material

Our silicone rubber compounds have good electrical insulating properties, so they are ideal for use as cable insulation. They are also flame resistant, do not become brittle even at low temperature and have a long service life even under adverse conditions.

At RADO we have a separate division for silicone rubber compounds. To prevent contamination with other types of rubber, they are produced in dedicated premises and production lines.

Use of RADO products in the cable industry

The following areas represent some of the most important applications for our rubber compounds in the cable industry:

  • Insulation of cables for diverse fields of application
  • Electric vehicles
  • High-voltage cables
  • Safety cables

Aviation – safe take-off with silicone and fluoro rubber compounds

The lighter an aircraft, the more profitable it is to run. Less weight saves fuel and increases both range and capacity. For that reason the aviation industry relies on materials that are light but stable.

Advantages of RADO compounds for aviation

Our silicone rubber compounds offer a unique combination of mechanical and chemical properties, including good electrical insulating properties, high thermal stability, elasticity across a broad temperature range and good flame retardancy. As such they have all the qualities that are important for use in the aviation sector.

Likewise, fluoro rubber compounds from RADO are also suitable for the aerospace industry. As well as being thermally stable, they are also resistant to fuels, mineral oils and fats.

 

Energy and oil industry – special compounds for specific requirements

Many parts of the energy and oil industry are subject to extreme conditions that require the use of high-quality technical materials. RADO's portfolio includes a wide variety of compounds that satisfy all requirements for use in these challenging sectors. Examples include:

  • Fluoro rubber (FPM) for sealing applications in the petrochemical industry
  • Polychloroprene rubber (CR) for cables in nuclear power stations
  • Hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) for seals and packing in the oil production sector

HNBR offers outstanding resistance to crude oil and Oil additives. Obtained by hydrogenating acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, it has similar properties to NBR but is much more inert and has greater thermal stability and weathering resistance.

Of course, our silicone rubber compounds with their good electrical insulating properties are also suitable for the energy industry, while our fluoro rubber compounds, which have high resistance to mineral oils at high ambient temperatures, are of interest to the petroleum industry.

Polymer-bound chemicals – improved miscibility, less dust

All sorts of chemicals are used in the plastics and rubber industry. They often come in powdered form, but this can make processing more problematic. Powders are difficult to incorporate. They do not disperse readily and so require relatively long mixing times. In addition, they lead to dust emissions and unpleasant odours, and this is a major problem, especially in the case of toxic substances. Polymer-bound chemicals, which form an important part of RADO's portfolio, can help with this.

Advantages of polymer binding

The biggest advantages of polymer-bound chemicals in comparison to other physical forms are as follows:

  • Simple, clean handling and dispensing
  • Compliance with industrial hygiene regulations
  • Shorter absorption times
  • Better miscibility

Areas of use of polymer-bound chemicals

Polymer-bound chemicals are enjoying growing popularity among tyre manufactures and other rubber processors, who are increasingly turning to these additives as a way of improving the quality of their products and the productivity of their processes. The main areas of use include the production of hoses, seals, tyres and drive belts.

Consumer applications – rubber compounds wherever you look

Domestic appliances, kitchen utensils, toys, cars, bikes, lawnmowers, window and door seals – rubber compounds have found their way into virtually every area of daily life. RADO's portfolio includes many different formulations that are ideal for use in the consumer sector.

Compounds for domestic applications – the right priorities

The requirements placed on rubber compounds by the consumer sector differ from those of the automotive, aviation or oil-refining industry, for example. As well as being safe to handle, other important factors for domestic applications are that products are tasteless and odourless. After all, nobody wants their home to stink of rubber or for the spatula to leave a hint of chemicals in their freshly-baked cake.

All sorts of uses for RADO products

Many objects from the consumer sector would be difficult to make without rubber compounds. RADO compounds for the consumer sector include:

  • Silicone rubbers (e.g. kitchen utensils, cake moulds, maintenance-free door and window seals)
  • Natural rubber (NR) (e.g. household goods)
  • Ethylene-propylene(-diene) rubber (EP(D)M) (e.g. window profiles)
Rolf Müller
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