Frequently Asked Questions

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer. Hiawatha Rubber makes many products out of EPDM rubber.

EPDM is a synthetic rubber polymer and is made from ethylene and propylene monomers. This rubber was developed in the early 1960's and used to produce variety of products like radiator and steam hoses, freezer gaskets, tires, roofing membranes and aircraft seals to name only a few.

Natural rubber comes from rubber trees. Synthetic rubber is made from various petroleum-based monomers.

Injection, Hot Transfer, Cold Transfer, Compression

HRC does compression and transfer molding.

Yes, we employ an onsite chemist to help with internal development. We also have suppliers who can assist with selecting a rubber compound from their inventory that best suits the application.

Natural rubber is the rubber produced from the rubber tree (Hevea brasillinsis). When the tree matures, the latex from the tree is collected from a diagonal incision in the tree trunk. The tapping process does not destroy the tree and the tree wound will later heal itself. Synthetic rubber is man-made rubber produced from petrochemicals and other compounds. Crude oil is the principal raw material for producing synthetic rubber.

Silicone rubber is a type of synthetic rubber made from silicone. This type of rubber has high flexibility resilience and tensile strength over a wide temperature range.

Rubber has certain unique properties which makes it suitable to produce rubber products which are widely used in various industrial applications. Rubber is water repellent. It is resistant to alkalies and weak acids. Rubber has elasticity, toughness, impermeability, adhesiveness, and electrical resistance. These properties make rubber useful as an adhesive, a coating composition, a fiber, a molding compound, as well as an electrical insulator.

Synthetic rubber has the following advantages over natural rubber:

• better aging and weathering
• more resistance to oil
• resistance to solvents, oxygen, ozone, and certain chemicals
• resilience over a wider temperature range

Durometer is the hardness of a rubber part. It is measured on the Shore A, B, or C scales.

There is no difference. FKM is the abbreviated form for Fluoroelastomer material. Viton® is the registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers.

Hiawatha Rubber provides the following base polymer compounds:

• EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
• HNBR (Hydrogenated Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber)
• Urethane
• Silicone
• Neoprene
• FKM/Viton (Fluoroelastomer)
• Nitrile (NBR)
• Natural Rubber – gum rubber
• Butyl (IIR)
• Hydrin (ECO)

Note that there are many variations of compounds using these polymer types. Those variations are determined by the functionality and environmental conditions of the product.

Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, castings, plastics, plates, rollers, shafts,

One of the biggest advantages Hiawatha Rubber has is the ability to do short run prototyping. HRC is experienced in taking a product from the conceptual phase all the way through full production.

Yes, we use a 3rd party testing facility for any certification, with also some capability for certification in-house.

Hiawatha Rubber is registered to ISO 9001 by SAI Global. This means that the processes at HRC meet and often exceed the ISO requirements.