Surfacing Products
The term “surfacing” can be applied to a variety of products that share similar design considerations and offer similar functionality. Surfacing products include attachments and mountings, pedal covers, boots and bellows, handles, step pads, grips, grommets, eyelets, hole plugs, covers, mats, pads, trim, and edging. Whether your application calls for a custom-designed component or one made to your print, our materials experts and design engineers understand what it takes to meet your most demanding requirements.
DESIGN In most cases, surfacing products must withstand extended exposure to air, ozone, and sunlight. The application may also include exposure to water (or saltwater) or to petroleum oils and fuels. While service temperatures may range from -20° to 120°F (-29° to 49°C), pressure is usually not a concern. The primary criteria are good product fit, a pleasing appearance, proper function over the component’s service life, and economy. Surfacing products are often compression molded (as with mats, covers, and pads) or injection molded (as with grips, boots, and grommets). Trim and edging are often extruded. For some molded rubber applications, a metal or plastic insert may be overmolded.
SURFACING PRODUCTS
APPLICATIONS INCLUDE:
Appliances
Agricultural & Heavy Equipment
Vehicles & Engines
Marine
Outdoor Power Equipment
Recreational Vehicles
FUNCTION Surfacing products perform numerous functions:
- Attachments and mountings are used to position, support, and stabilize other components in an assembly.
- Boots and bellows are used to conceal other components in an assembly, to provide a barrier between internal components and the user, and to block dirt and other contaminants.
- Covers s serve the same functions as boots and bellows while also providing a non-slip surface.
- Grips provide comfortable, non-slip surfaces for human hands and reduce vibration.
- Hole plugs are used to fill gaps, unused holes, or spaces within an assembly, as well as to block dust and dirt.
- Mats and pads provide non-slip surfaces and protect the surface below against wear.
- Trim, which may also be molded, is used to hide joints, seams, or fasteners.
- Edging is used to cover unfinished or sharp edges. It may be decorative, functional, or both.
- Step pads protect walking surfaces, reduce slipping, and encourage proper foot placement.
- Pedal covers provide comfort, reduce slipping, and improve appearance. As with covers and step pads, pedal covers are ideal locations for your company logo.
- Grommets and eyelets may be used to reinforce a hole, to shield something from the sharp edges of a hole, or both. Grommets are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, while eyelets are generally smaller and are almost always circular.
- Handles: Grab handles provide convenience and safety, while handles used in other applications provide accessibility, control, and comfort.
MATERIALS While material selection depends on the specific demands of the application, several rubber and plastic materials are widely used in surfacing products. Rubber materials include nitrile (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile (HNBR), styrene bu tadiene (SBR), ethylene propylene (EPDM), chloroprene (CR), and thermoplastic elastomers. Plastic materials include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon (PA), polycarbonate (PC), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When enhanced stiffness and strength are required, glass fibers (in amounts ranging from 10% to 33%) may be incorporated into the plastic materials. Certain applications, such as step pads, mountings, and handles, may incorporate one or more metal components.
LET US HELP RL Hudson supplies bearing and anti-friction products to some of the largest and most demanding manufacturing companies in the world. If we can be of service to you, please let us know. You can reach us at 1-800-722-6766.
