Rubber Lining

Rubber lining is an application where a rubber sheet or membrane is used for protection against corrosion where the steel substrate is exposed to water or any corrosive environment. There are several rubber lining applications some of which include resistance to acid, chemicals and alkalis, abrasion resistance, infect protection, therefore, selecting the most suitable material is crucial to proper protection. The process can be carried out on the surface or on the inside of metal pipes, tanks, valves, flanges etc., making it a very popular choice.

Applications

Main applications of rubber lining are Storage Tanks, Conveyor Rollers, Butterfly Valves, delivery piping, Containers and for any kind of surface treatment and protection against environment, chemical erosions, atmospheric degradation.

USES

Rubber linings are used in a variety of applications like the chemical, mining, fertilizer, electrochemical, steel, transportation and environment sectors. Rubber linings are used for protection against corrosion when exposed to water and chemicals. The linings are produced in a variety of polymers, can be applied in different thickness and used in various industrial applications. Applications where rubber linings can be used are as follows:

Rubber linings are used to extend equipment life Used to counter the toughest abrasion and corrosion applications. For extreme chemical environments. Severe wear situations.

TYPES OF RUBBER LINING

Natural Soft Rubber Linings

Natural soft rubber linings are usually made from various types of poly soft rubber. These types of rubber have such characteristics as low hardness, high resilience, and flexibility. They are abrasion resistant linings capable of absorbing and repulsing the impact of abrasive forces of material handled. They are suitable for slurry tank lining, pipe lining, pump lining etc. Natural soft rubber linings are also used for pickling tanks, storage tanks resistance to hydrochloric acid and sulphuric solutions.

Hard Rubber Linings

Hard rubber linings are generally made from various types of poly hard rubber. They are chemical resistant linings with good flexibility and high impact resistance. Some of them are graphite based rubber linings having excellent chemical resistance at high temperatures and some others are exhaust steam vulcanized rubber linings that are suitable for lining vessels, which can’t be cured with pressurized steam. These various types of hard rubber linings are suitable for storage tanks, reactors, plants which use ion exchange membrane process, pipes at high operating temperatures etc.

Synthetic Rubber Linings

Some types of synthetic rubber used for lining are chloroprene, Nitrile (NBR), EPDM.

Chloroprene Rubber Lining

These rubber linings have good weathering and ozone cracking resistance. They also have better oil, acid and abrasion resistance. Chloroprene rubber linings are suitable for desalination plants, sea water piping, lining for water box, vessels etc.

Nitrile Rubber Lining

l rubber has excellent chemical resistance at high temperatures. These rubber linings are also very durable in oil based applications. Nitrile rubber linings are, therefore, good for use in vessels, pipes for oilplants, for storage and transport.

EPDM Rubber Lining

EPDM rubber come with excellent resistance to UV radiation, weathering and microbial attack. As it is highly flexible material with a low co-efficient of thermal expansion and contraction, EPDM lining can be applied in a wide range of temperatures and terrains. These characteristics of EPDM rubber not only makes it suitable for linings but also for rubber coating.

Key benefits of rubber lining

Rubber lining inside pipes has several benefits. The rubber lined pipes have good structure and are attached to the pipe using powerful glue, and rubber can resist most corrosive acids and other chemicals. It will act as a shield to keep the pipe underneath it safe. Rubber is naturally resistant to electricity, and can absorb and resist shocks and friction. The other advantage with rubber lining apart from cost savings, is that it can be relined multiple time.
As a more pliable and adaptable material, rubber is less likely to be damaged by flowing liquids compared to the metal pipes are constructed from. The fact they’re much easier (and cheaper) to replace is also a point in their favor, ensuring the overall durability of the operation longer than the actual components would last on their own.
Working together, steel rubber lined piping can provide a double punch to the problems facing most pipes. While steel is strong, adaptable, and normally used in pipelines, it can become weakened by corrosion, which rubber protects against. The way these two substances are bonded together is through lining the inside of the pipe and then vulcanizing the rubber.