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SURFACING PRODUCTS
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The general term “surfacing” can be used in conjunction with a variety of products requiring similar design considerations and offering similar functionality. These products include attachments / mountings, boots, bellows, covers, grips, hole plugs, mats and pads.
DESIGN Despite their variety, surfacing products typically share several attributes. In most cases, these products have extended exposure to air and sunlight. In some cases, the application also includes exposure to water (or saltwater), or to petroleum oils and fuels. Although ambient temperatures often range from -20° to 120° F, pressure is usually not a concern for surfacing products. The chief concerns are good product fit, pleasing appearance (color consistency), and economy. Surfacing products are often compression molded (as with mats) or injection molded (as with grips). For some designs, a metal or plastic insert is overmolded.
FUNCTION Surfacing products can fulfill numerous functions. For example, attachment and mountings are used to position, support, and stabilize other components in an assembly. Boots and bellows conceal other components in an assembly, provide barriers between internal components and the consumer, and block dirt and other contaminants. Covers typically serve the same functions as boots and bellows while also providing non-slip surfaces. Grips provide comfortable and non-slip surfaces for human hands; in some cases, grips also reduce the transmission of vibration. Hole plugs fill gaps, unused holes, or spaces within an assembly, and also block dust and dirt. Mats and pads provide non-slip surfaces as they protect against wear.
Materials Although material usage will depend on the specific demands of a given application, there are several rubber and plastic materials that are most widely used for surfacing products. These rubber materials include nitrile (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile (HNBR), styrene butadiene (SBR), ethylene propylene (EPDM), and chloroprene (CR). Plastic materials include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon (PA 66), and polycarbonate (PC). In many cases, glass fibers (in ratios ranging from 10% to 33%) are incorporated into the plastic materials to improve strength. More information about these materials can be found at rlhudson.com/material_profiles.
Let Us Help RL Hudson supplies surfacing products for some of the largest and most demanding manufacturing companies in the world. If we can be of service to you, please let us know.
