Is Vinyl The Same As Rubber

There are actually a large number of materials characterized as rubbers or more generally as elastomers.

Is vinyl the same as rubber.

The vinyl material however does not have the same resistance to extreme temperatures or the durability of rubber especially when being unrolled and rolled frequently. Vinyl hardens up pretty quickly and tends to fall apart when removed. We get a lot of questions asking if our vinyl automotive flooring replacements are made of the same material as some brand name heavy duty floor mats. Rubber retains some flexibility so can be repaired have small changes made etc.

Rubber is a naturally derived product made mainly of latex extr. The raw materials are introduced to the extruder where the blending and forming processes take place at a temperature high enough to lower the viscosity of the compound so it can be formed into the desired shapes. Thermoplastic rubber and thermoplastic vinyl cove bases are manufactured essentially in the same way. Vinyl mats are more chemical resistant more resistant to moisture absorption and can be produced in a wider variety of colors than rubber floor mats can.

Rubber and latex are not the same but many people use the words as if they both referred only to natural rubber which is the material derived from the milky white sap of rubber trees. Linoleum was the original resilient flooring material. First patented more than 150 years ago linoleum was discovered when it was noticed that linseed based paint developed a solid tough but flexible film that floated on the top of the paint. Many rubber backed mats can be made with a dam beveled border or a cleated backing to help minimzie movement on floors and carpets.

They provide great protection for a low price and are great in low risk environments. Vinyl gloves became an alternate option for people with latex allergies in the healthcare and industrial industry. Since then vinyl gloves have been a quality choice. These vary widely in chemical structure and application and all of them synthetic except for natural.

Rubber products can withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures that vinyl products cannot without cracking chipping or flaking. I can t say that it s ever seemed like a big deal though. Exhibiting rubber like characteristics nitrile offers much of the same flexibility and sensitivity of fit as latex.