Rubber for Effective Anti Vibration | Reduce Vibration

28 Oct.,2024

 

Rubber for Effective Anti Vibration | Reduce Vibration

A wide variety of industries, including construction, aerospace, defence and material handling, require anti-vibration solutions to limit noise, vibrations, and shock. GMT specialises in providing anti-vibration mounts and other products to cater for each industry by offering a range of bespoke solutions to protect your equipment, vehicles, machinery and workforce. These products are a necessity for many companies, and without them, the efficiency of a company, its people and its products can be jeopardised.

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When it comes to vibration-reducing materials, most products are made up of a rubber compound. Find out why this is the case and why it is so important to invest in anti-vibration solutions in many industries.

What material absorbs vibration the best?

Rubber is widely regarded as the best vibration-reducing material as it can be manufactured with high damping coefficient properties, sustains its performance and can be highly resilient with low levels of creep.

There is a common misconception that rubber only refers to one type of material. In reality, there are many different types and compounds which have been created and adapted to suit specific conditions and applications, and the type of rubber for vibration reduction will vary depending on the specifics of the job. The different rubber compounds fall into two main categories: natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

  • Natural rubber is made from latex, a substance originating from plants. It features excellent resilience, as well as fantastic surface friction and abrasion properties.
  • Synthetic rubber is produced in chemical plants and laboratories. Its diversity in properties means it can be used in many different applications. Its properties can vary depending on the production process but is often resistant to various liquids and chemicals, temperature and ageing.

The difference in how these are produced means that they have unique compound structures, which will affect their individual properties and therefore their suitability for specific utilisation.

Both types of rubber have their benefits, and GMT will use both natural and synthetic rubber as anti-vibration material, depending on the use and requirements of each product.

Why is it important to reduce vibrations in certain industries?

Vibrations and shock can cause damage and wear to equipment and machinery across a range of industries which often leads to a shorter lifespan, poorer performance, and unnecessary noise. In some cases, vibrations and shock can even cause machinery to break, something which could be avoided with the correct vibration-reducing product.

Replacing equipment and machinery often comes with a considerable cost, eating into profit margins and affecting production time and efficiency. Investing in anti-vibration solutions will help to keep your machinery and equipment running safely and efficiently for as long as possible, protecting your equipment and helping you to experience the best performance for a considerable length of time.

In addition, vibrations and shock can cause lasting damage to your workforce, such as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) among other effects, particularly if they are regularly operating the machinery, and if exposure is prolonged. It is imperative that you protect those who are particularly at risk of exposure to vibrations and shock; take a look at the importance of controlling vibration in construction for more information.

Our Process

Here at GMT, we have refined the production of our natural, synthetic and mixed rubber products in order to produce industry-leading vibration-reducing materials that are of the best possible quality.

We source our rubber latex from rubber tree plantations across the globe, helping us to find the best quality product for consistent results. When we receive the latex, our team will compound it, using our high-tech systems to ensure consistent results. We can choose your specific rubber type from thousands of combinations, using our knowledge and expertise to achieve the perfect anti-vibration rubber for your particular requirement. The rubber is mixed by the GMT team, enabling us to control quality and timescale. This helps us to deliver your durable anti-vibration solution on time without any issues.

We are confident that through our experience, our anti-vibration materials are the best on offer. Take a look at our process to understand the depth of the production undertaken to produce our customer&#;s products.

Contact GMT Today

GMT have many years of experience in producing innovative new anti-vibration materials and other vibration-reducing solutions, and we love a challenge. If you would like to learn more about our anti-vibration mounts and other products, please don&#;t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our knowledgeable team today.

What is the Best Vibration Damping Material?

When vibration is an issue, the right material can make all the difference. Vibration mounts, isolators, and other damping parts can be made with a variety of materials, but it&#;s essential to find the best, most cost-effective compound for your applications.

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Of course, it&#;s not easy to figure out which material is right for your parts if your not a material expert. Rubber is naturally quite good at dampening vibration, but there are a wide range of different compounds available. Let&#;s break down what impacts your options and how to choose the best vibration damping materials for your needs.

Ideal Characteristics for Vibration Dampening Materials

Before you can determine which material is best suited for your vibration damping needs, it&#;s important to consider what you need your parts to do. There are a variety of factors that impact how well your part can deaden vibration, but some applications may favor one characteristic over another. Those factors include:

  • Durometer
  • Required resistances
  • Part size and weight
  • Adhesion to metal

Durometer

Determining the right durometer is arguably the most important factor when investing in any parts that will dampen vibration. Any materials used in your parts will need to accommodate the right hardness so that your isolators or other parts aren&#;t too soft or too stiff. As such, you&#;ll need to test various materials (and even different formulations of those materials) to achieve the best durometer to dampen any unwanted vibration and sound.

Required resistances

Your operating environment also plays a major role in dictating which materials are right for your parts. Simply put, you need your parts to not only survive, but thrive under different conditions.

Exposure to the outdoors is one such challenge. Any parts that are exposed to the elements will need to resist weathering, ozone exposure, water, and other elemental factors. Other dampeners may be exposed to oil or other substances that can break down some materials over time. Finally, it's always best practice to consider temperature range if your parts will be subjected to hot or cold environments.

Part size and weight

The overall design of the part also impacts material selection and manufacturing. For example, some grommets and isolators will need enough rubber to withstand any pressure coming from the application itself. Other parts may need to be a certain size and weight to properly dampen vibration and noise &#; too much or too little weight and the parts either won&#;t work or make the situation worse.

The best way to determine which materials are best is through testing. While you may be able to narrow your selection down to certain materials with an ideal durometer and weight range. This process will help ensure that your parts are right and help you determine the most cost-effective solution to absorb vibrations for your applications.

Adhesion to metal

Simply put, vibration dampeners aren&#;t going to work if they fall off of your applications. Whether you&#;re mounting your isolator to a compression or a pipe, these anti-vibration tools need to stay put and do their job. In the case of extreme vibration energy or tricky surfaces, it might be best to opt for higher-quality materials bond better to metal inserts.

Best Material Options for Vibration Damping

When it comes to vibration isolation, there are a few different go-to rubber materials that will make sense for the vast majority of applications.

  • EPDM
  • Natural rubber
  • Neoprene

EPDM

EPDM rubber is an extremely tough, versatile part that is very resistant to weathering and heat. This particular synthetic material can be formulated in a variety of ways, which offers a lot a variety in terms of weight and durometer and adhesion to metal.

Natural rubber

If you need a part that combines vibration damping with high tensile and tear strength, natural rubber is an intriguing option. Natural rubber can take a beating for a long time &#; just don&#;t expect it to hold up well in outdoor conditions or oil resistance.

Neoprene

Neoprene is a multipurpose elastomer that shines in two key situations for vibration damping &#; oil resistance and adhesion to metal. While a more expensive material than EPDM and other compounds, it&#;s ability to resist exposure to oil and ability to hold onto metal surfaces and inserts can be worth the cost in order to limit part failure.

Invest in the Best Materials for Your Vibration Damping Applications

When vibration can&#;t be an issue, it&#;s important to get your parts right. The good news is that Timco is here to help you determine the best, most cost-effective vibration damping materials for your applications.

Timco works directly with you to identify your exact pain points so that we can design and supply parts made for your needs. Give us a call at 800-969- or contact us online to talk to one of our experts about the parts you need.

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