The reason why rubber is used for anti vibration mounts is due to several of its inherent properties that make it particularly effective at absorbing and isolating vibrations.
The rubber is part of an anti-vibration pads that is placed between 2 shaped stainless steel threaded plates.
Some of properties of rubber that make it very useful for vibration isolation are as follows
Damping Properties: Rubber has excellent damping properties, meaning it can absorb and dissipate vibrational energy. When vibrations travel into a piece of rubber, the material converts the vibrational energy into a small amount of heat, which is then dissipated. This reduces the amount of vibration that is transmitted through the material.
Elasticity and Resilience: Rubber is highly elastic and resilient. It can deform under stress and then return to its original shape once the stress is removed. This makes it ideal for absorbing shocks and vibration.
Versatility: Rubber can be manufactured in a wide range of hardness levels, allowing it to be tailored to specific applications. Softer rubbers can be used where low-frequency vibrations are a problem, while harder rubbers can be used for high-frequency vibrations.
Durability: Rubber is highly durable and resistant to wear and tear. This makes it suitable for applications where it may be subjected to constant or high levels of vibration.
Cost-effectiveness: Rubber is relatively inexpensive compared to some other materials, making it a cost-effective choice for vibration control applications.
Anti-vibration mounts made of rubber can effectively reduce the transmission of vibrations from machinery to the surrounding environment. This helps to protect the machinery from damage and wear, reduce noise, and improve the comfort and safety of workers in the vicinity.
Different types of rubber offer different features for vibration control. The properties of rubber can vary significantly depending on its composition and the manufacturing process used.
- Natural Rubber: Natural rubber has excellent elasticity and damping properties, making it effective at absorbing vibrations. However, it’s not as resistant to heat, oil, and certain chemicals as some types of synthetic rubber.
- Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR): SBR is a type of synthetic rubber that has good abrasion resistance and can maintain its flexibility over a wide temperature range. It has good damping properties, making it effective for vibration control.
- (EPDM): EPDM is another type of synthetic rubber that is known for its excellent resistance to heat, UV rays, ozone, and weathering. It’s also flexible and resilient, making it effective at absorbing vibrations.
- Neoprene (Polychloroprene): Neoprene is a synthetic rubber that has good chemical stability and maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range. It’s also resistant to oil and other chemicals, making it suitable for use in harsh environments.
- Nitrile Rubber (NBR): NBR is a type of synthetic rubber that is particularly resistant to oil, fuel, and other chemicals. It’s less flexible and has lower damping properties than some other types of rubber, but it’s still used in some vibration control applications, particularly where oil resistance is important.Styrene-Butadiene Rubber & Ethylene
Megamat anti-vibrations pads are manufactured using both Styrene-Butadiene & EPDM rubber so it can offer all of the features of these in one excellent product.
Many of these qualities are the reason rubber is particuliary useful for anti-vibration pads for heavy machinery