Tank Linings: Material Comparison
Different environments and industries have varying needs for their rubber tank linings for tanks. Blair Rubber has spent more than 3 decades perfecting their products to best serve their customers. Knowing the differences between these distinct rubbers will help guide you toward what will work best for your application needs.
Learn more about each type of rubber tank lining, including natural, Butyl, and Hydrogenated Nitrile.
Natural Rubber
Natural rubber is a cost-efficient rubber lining that works well for hydrochloric acid situations. A soft natural rubber is suited for concentrated acid conditions, whereas a semi-hard natural rubber best protects diluted hydrochloric acid environments.
Natural rubber works well for abrasion and cut and gouge needs, but is poor when it comes to oil and weather/ozone resistance.
Note, because this rubber compound is naturally occurring, it is not perfect – it has variations.
Popular products:
• MarflexTM PG70
• EnduraflexTMVE611BN
• EnduraflexTM VE616BN
Styrene-Butadiene (SBR)
The most widely-recognized form of SBR is in tire tread compounds. This synthetic rubber has a similar molecular compound to natural rubber.
SBR has excellent abrasion resistance and is fair in terms of cut & tear resistance. Just like natural rubber compounds, it has poor oil and weather andozone resistance.
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Butyl (IIR)
Butyl products have many variations in tank linings, including chlorobutyl and bromobutyl. Air does not permeate well through butyl rubber compounds. So much so that this is the rubber used as the inside lining of a tire. Butyl rubbers work well for a variety of industries and applications.
Butyl tank linings excel in chemical markets, including severe service conditions for the bromobutyl compound. Chlorobutyl tank linings are great for oxidizing solutions in hydrofluoric acid applications.
Additionally, butyl tank linings have good heat resistance, with a high temperature loading of 210°F+ and rank well for weather & ozone resistance. Butyl tank linings are not ideal for oil resistance situations.
Popular products:
• PlioweldTM LS582
• EnduraflexTM VE621BC
• CrislipTM CC4624
• MarflexTM HB50HT
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)
EPDM works great for the roofing market and other similar applications because it has excellent heat resistance. And because it has excellent weather & ozone resistance.
Depending on the product, these rubber linings either have a peroxide cure or a sulfuric acid cure. It’s resistance to chemicals is good and oil resistance is fair.
Popular products:
• EnduraflexTM VE518BEP
• EnduraflexTM VE530BEP
• EnduraflexTM V714BEP
Chloroprene
Chloroprene has excellent oil resistance. Sea water is a significant industry that use this type of rubber lining. It’s also a satisfactory product for other chemical service markets. Beyond excellent resistance to oil, chloroprene has good resistance to weather andozone and heat.
Note, neoprene linings fall into this category of rubber linings. In addition to black, neoprene linings come in white, which is preferred in the food industry.
Popular products:
• EnduraflexTM VE610BNE
• EnduraflexTM VE612BNE
• EnduraflexTM VE713BNE
Acrylonitrile (NBR)
NBR tank linings are great when oil is present because they have excellent oil resistance properties. NBR linings also have good resistance to chemical, weather & ozone and heat.
Popular products:
• EnduraflexTM VE107WNI (white nitrile)
• EnduraflexTM VE515BNI (black nitrile)
• EnduraflexTM VE927BNI (black nitrile)
Hydrogenated Nitrile (HNBR)
The HNBR product is Blair Rubber’s newest addition to their rubber tank linings. HNBR tank linings have excellent oil, chemical and heat resistance. Additionally, it has good resistance to weather andozone conditions.
While HNBR is at a higher price point than some other rubber tank lining options, it is because it lasts and has superior resistance in many areas.
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Get tips from Blair Rubber about how to select the right rubber liner for oil tanks. Learn what you can do to help the liners last as long as possible, including planned inspections and maintenance.