Rubber Sheet UK | SBR, EPDM, Nitrile & Neoprene Cut to Size | Rubberco
Last updated: | Written by Rubberco Flooring Specialists | Burnley, Lancashire, UK
What Is Rubber Sheet?
Rubber sheet is a flat, flexible material produced by calendering or compression moulding rubber compounds into sheets of uniform thickness. It is sold in rolls or flat sheets and cut to the exact width and length required.
Rubber sheeting serves an enormous range of applications across engineering, construction, food production, chemical processing, marine, automotive and flooring sectors. The right compound depends on the chemicals, temperatures and mechanical stresses involved.
Rubberco supplies rubber sheet in all major compounds — SBR, EPDM, Nitrile (NBR), Neoprene, Natural rubber and specialist blends — from stock in widths up to 1.4m and thicknesses from 1.5mm to 50mm. All sheet is cut to your exact dimensions.
Types of Rubber Sheet: Which Compound Do You Need?
SBR Rubber Sheet (Styrene Butadiene Rubber)
SBR is the most widely used general-purpose rubber compound. It offers good abrasion resistance, moderate mechanical strength and excellent value for money. SBR is not oil resistant and has poor UV and ozone resistance outdoors.
Best for: General matting, flooring, anti-vibration pads, conveyor belt lagging, noise reduction, gasketing for water applications.
EPDM Rubber Sheet (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
EPDM offers outstanding resistance to UV light, ozone, weathering, steam and hot water. It maintains flexibility at low temperatures down to -40°C. EPDM is not suitable for oil or hydrocarbon environments.
Best for: Outdoor applications, roofing membranes, automotive seals, steam systems, weatherstripping, pond liners, potable water applications.
Nitrile Rubber Sheet (NBR)
Nitrile rubber has exceptional resistance to petroleum oils, fuels, greases and many solvents. It is the industry-standard choice for any application involving hydrocarbon exposure.
Best for: Automotive workshops, engineering, fuel handling, oil rigs, hydraulic systems, gasketing for oil and fuel applications, industrial matting where oil spillage is present.
Neoprene Rubber Sheet (CR)
Neoprene combines moderate oil resistance with excellent weathering resistance, making it one of the most versatile general-purpose compounds. It also has good flame retardancy.
Best for: Marine applications, HVAC gaskets, sealing, vibration isolation, electrical insulation, applications requiring both weather and oil resistance.
Natural Rubber Sheet (NR)
Natural rubber offers the highest tensile strength and tear resistance of any rubber compound. It provides excellent abrasion resistance and resilience. Poor UV, ozone and oil resistance.
Best for: High-impact flooring, conveyor lining, anti-vibration mounts, engineering applications where maximum mechanical performance is needed.
Rubber Sheet Compound Comparison Table
| Property | SBR | EPDM | Nitrile | Neoprene | Natural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil resistance | Poor | Poor | Excellent | Moderate | Poor |
| UV / Ozone resistance | Poor | Excellent | Moderate | Good | Poor |
| Temperature range | -30 to +100°C | -40 to +120°C | -30 to +100°C | -40 to +120°C | -50 to +80°C |
| Abrasion resistance | Good | Moderate | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Water resistance | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Cost | Lowest | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Typical uses | Matting, flooring | Outdoor, roofing | Oil environments | Marine, HVAC | Engineering |
Rubber Sheet Applications by Industry
Engineering and Manufacturing
Nitrile and natural rubber sheets are used for machine base pads, anti-vibration mounts, conveyor lagging, punch press pads and isolation between metal components. Thickness typically 6mm to 25mm.
Construction and Building
EPDM sheet is standard for flat roof waterproofing, expansion joint seals and weatherproofing. SBR is used for underlay, flooring and acoustic isolation between floors. Neoprene is specified for bridge bearings and structural isolation pads.
Food and Pharmaceutical
Food-contact approved natural rubber and EPDM sheets are used for gasketing, sealing and conveyor lining in food production. FDA and EC 1935/2004 certified grades are available from Rubberco.
Marine and Offshore
Neoprene sheet is the preferred compound for marine environments — it resists saltwater, weathering and moderate fuel exposure. Used for hatch seals, fendering, deck covering and anti-slip surfaces.
Automotive and Transport
Nitrile sheet is standard in automotive workshops for workshop matting, engine bay sealing and fuel system gasketing. EPDM is used for door and window seals, boot seals and cooling system gaskets.
Choosing the Right Rubber Sheet Thickness
| Thickness | Typical Applications |
|---|---|
| 1.5mm – 3mm | Gasketing, sealing, liner applications, thin flexible wrapping |
| 3mm – 6mm | General matting, floor protection, bench covering, drawer lining |
| 6mm – 12mm | Heavy duty flooring, anti-vibration pads, machine base pads |
| 12mm – 25mm | Structural anti-vibration mounts, heavy industrial matting, conveyor lagging |
| 25mm – 50mm | Specialist engineering pads, buffer stops, high-impact protection |
How to Buy Rubber Sheet in the UK
Rubberco supplies rubber sheet cut to your exact dimensions from stock held in the UK. You can order by the linear metre (for sheeting up to 1.4m wide), as specific cut pieces, or as full rolls for large volume requirements.
To order: select your compound, specify thickness, width and length required. All rubber sheet is cut in our UK warehouse and dispatched the same day for orders placed before 2pm. Free delivery on orders over £50.
For specialist grades, non-standard thicknesses or large volumes, contact our technical team for a bespoke quote. We stock over 40 rubber sheet variants across all major compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SBR and EPDM rubber sheet?
SBR is a general-purpose compound best suited to indoor matting, flooring and anti-abrasion applications. It has poor UV and ozone resistance so degrades outdoors. EPDM excels outdoors — it has outstanding UV, ozone and weather resistance and is the correct choice for external applications, roofing and pond liners. Neither compound resists oil well — for oil environments, choose Nitrile (NBR).
Can rubber sheet be cut to size?
Yes — all Rubberco rubber sheet is cut to your specified dimensions. You can order by the linear metre (cut from a roll up to 1.4m wide), as specific rectangular pieces, or request custom shapes for engineering applications. Use a sharp Stanley knife and steel rule for on-site trimming of thinner gauges; thicker sheet (over 6mm) is best cut with a bandsaw or water jet.
Which rubber sheet is oil resistant?
Nitrile rubber (NBR) has the best oil resistance of all common rubber compounds. It resists petroleum oils, fuels, greases and many solvents. Neoprene offers moderate oil resistance and is suitable for light oil exposure. SBR, EPDM and Natural rubber have poor oil resistance and should not be used in direct contact with oils or fuels.
What thickness rubber sheet do I need for flooring?
For light duty flooring and bench covering, 3mm to 4mm is sufficient. For general industrial flooring with foot traffic, 4mm to 6mm is standard. For heavy vehicle traffic, forklifts or machinery areas, use 6mm to 10mm. For anti-vibration machine pads, 10mm to 25mm depending on the load and vibration frequency.
Is rubber sheet suitable for outdoor use?
It depends on the compound. EPDM and Neoprene are both suitable for outdoor use — they resist UV light, ozone and weathering. SBR and Natural rubber degrade outdoors and should not be used in exposed external applications. For outdoor matting, playground surfaces and external flooring, EPDM or recycled rubber compounds are the correct choice.
