Rubber Sheet

Rubber Sheeting

Rubber Sheeting is an extruded stock rubber shape used for sealing, cushioning and sound and impact absorption. The agricultural, construction and manufacturing industries use rubber sheets as mats, lining, floor coverings, floor runners, stair treads, in automotive manufacturing, electronic assemblies and in packaging applications. Rubber sheeting is useful when weather stripping a building, in drainage systems, and for wiper or chute applications in industrial settings. They also serve as sound dampening mats that are placed under loud, vibrating machinery to absorb sound waves as well as impact vibration. Rubber sheeting can be manufactured to meet specific industrial, pharmaceutical and food grades, and differs dramatically based on what materials are used as additives to the rubber material.

Rubber sheeting is formed through the rubber extrusion process. First, rubber material, which may contain additives such as silicone or neoprene, is heated on a shearing screw conveyer and pressurized through the rotation of the screw. It is pushed through a die at high pressure at the end of the extruder, and exits the other end resembling the die shape. In this case, the rubber is pushed through a long, thin die and is stretched to meet the die's shape. Post-processing treatments often include trimming to size, curing and vulcanizing. Their thicknesses run between 0.015 and 3 inches, and may be any length or width. Rubber sheeting may have an adhesive backing (for applications like floor covering), cloth reinforcing for added strength, or contain silicone for high temperature applications. Rubber's color is usually black and can have a smooth, corrugated, course, bumpy or V-ribbed surface texture. Rolls of rubber sheeting are either solid and dense or foam, and all exhibit temperature, chemical and UV ray resistance.