Rubber-metal buffers combine two types of materials that provide both the desired damping effect and the necessary stability and fastening capability at the same time. Elastomers, such as natural rubber, as well as steel and stainless steel have these desired properties.
Rubber Metal Buffer Natural Rubber
Natural rubber (also called NR rubber) is an inexpensive elastomer on a natural basis. The plastic exhibits very good mechanical properties and has high elasticity, tensile strength and abrasion resistance. This makes natural rubber the preferred plastic for the vast majority of rubber-to-metal buffers.
Natural rubber is almost inert to alkaline solvents. Its electrical insulation effect is also good. However, natural rubber is not suitable for use with gasoline, grease and oil or at high temperatures. If these properties are required, Sattler GmbH Elastomer & Polymer Technologie uses other elastomers whose physical, chemical and mechanical properties are matched to the desired application.
Rubber Metal Buffer Steel
In addition to the elastic, vibration-damping component, rubber-metal buffers must have a stable fastening element. A steel element is usually used for this purpose. Steel can be described as refined pig iron with a low carbon content. Its relatively high carbon content makes pig iron brittle and fragile, which is why it is not suitable in this form as a raw material in plant and mechanical engineering.
Only the reduction of the carbon content by oxygen treatment using various processes - chemists refer to this as "refining" - gives the steel its outstanding mechanical properties, which make it an ideal and stable raw material.
However, steel is usually not rustproof, so rubber-metal buffers made of steel are only suitable for indoor use. Rubber-metal buffers for outdoor use must therefore be made of stainless steel.
Rubber Metal Buffer Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a special steel, which is characterized by its corrosion resistance. Whenever rubber-metal buffers are to be used outdoors, the use of stainless steel makes sense. It is true that conventional zinc coatings also offer effective protection against corrosion, in that the zinc layer wraps itself around the steel like a protective sheath. Nevertheless, it can happen through mechanical action that the zinc layer is attacked to such an extent that the steel underneath begins to rust.
Stainless steel components, on the other hand, do not require a protective coating because they are inherently rustproof. Steel manufacturers achieve this property through specific admixtures (alloys) of other metals. Stainless steel contains at least 10.5% chromium and traces of other precious metals such as manganese, copper and nickel.