Rubber Extrusions and Moldings

Natural rubber is excellent as a general-purpose elastomer: it offers a good balance of superior tear strength, high resilience and tensile strength, good abrasion resistance, and good flexural qualities at low temperatures. Natural Rubber should not be used where it will be exposed to chemicals or oil. Also, it does not stand up well in outdoor use where it is subjected to oxygen, sunlight, ozone, and temperature extremes. Product examples using natural rubber include latex gloves and nursing equipment.

Sponge rubber extrusions are lightweight, flexible, and resilient sealing solutions designed for applications where compression, cushioning, and environmental resistance are essential. Made from materials like EPDM, Neoprene, or Silicone, sponge rubber features a cellular structure—available in both open-cell and closed-cell formats—that enables excellent compression recovery, adaptability to irregular surfaces, and strong sealing against air, moisture, and dust. Closed-cell sponge rubber, in particular, excels in outdoor environments due to its resistance to UV, ozone, temperature extremes, and mild chemicals. At Fairchild Industries, we produce custom sponge rubber extrusions for industries such as automotive, appliance, construction, and HVAC, where reliable, soft sealing is critical. Typical applications include door and window seals, appliance gaskets, anti-vibration strips, edge trims, and weatherproof enclosures. With precision extrusion capabilities and decades of material expertise, Fairchild delivers high-performance sponge rubber solutions tailored to your exact specifications.

Neoprene is durable and water resistant. It also has good resistance to oils, hydraulic fluids, grease, and ozone attack and can be used to create a cushion and a barrier against damage to something being housed within it. Neoprene is noted for a unique combination of properties, which has led to its use in thousands of applications in diverse environments. Neoprene withstands fluctuations in temperature but fairs poorly in consistently low temperatures and will self extinguish a flame. Neoprene is a popular material for wetsuits, electrical insulation and car fan belts. Its resistance to chemicals makes it suitable for industrial applications such as gaskets, hoses and anti-corrosion coatings. It can also provide an effective base for adhesives, as well as an effective noise insulator in power transformer applications.

Nitrile rubber is resistant to petroleum oils and aromatic hydrocarbons and is also highly resistant to mineral oils, vegetable oils, and many acids. In addition, nitrile has good elongation properties as well as adequate resilience, tensile and compression set. Because of its cost, this elastomer is not usually recommended for applications where oil resistance is not a major problem. Where oil resistance is required, the cost is justified. NITRILE RUBBER is generally attacked by ozone, ketones, esters, aldehydes, chlorinated and nitro hydrocarbons.

Slip-coated rubber extrusions are high-performance sealing components that feature a low-friction surface treatment applied to the rubber profile, allowing for smoother operation and enhanced durability in dynamic sealing environments. These extrusions are designed to reduce surface drag, eliminate noise caused by friction, and improve resistance to abrasion and wear—making them ideal for applications involving repeated movement, such as automotive door and window seals. At Fairchild Industries, we apply specialized slip coatings to materials like EPDM to create seals that not only perform well under stress but also enhance user experience with quiet, low-effort motion. Slip-coated rubber extrusions are widely used in the automotive industry for glass run channels, beltline moldings, and weatherstrips, but they also serve appliance and industrial applications where low-friction sealing is critical. With precise coating application and material compatibility expertise, Fairchild ensures that each slip-coated extrusion meets stringent performance standards for long-lasting, noise-reducing sealing solutions.

Rubber co-extrusions are specialized profiles that combine two or more rubber or thermoplastic materials into a single, continuous component—delivering a unique balance of flexibility, strength, and performance within one part. This process allows for the integration of multiple durometers, colors, or material properties—such as bonding a soft sealing element with a rigid mounting base—making them ideal for applications where multi-functionality and efficient installation are required. Fairchild Industries leverages advanced co-extrusion technology to produce custom profiles using materials like EPDM, TPV, and TPE, serving industries such as automotive, construction, and industrial equipment. Rubber co-extrusions are commonly used in door seals, window channels, glass runs, trunk gaskets, and HVAC seals where varying performance zones are necessary for durability, sealing, and structural integrity. With over 60 years of manufacturing experience, Fairchild delivers precision-engineered co-extruded rubber components that meet complex design requirements while reducing assembly time and overall system cost.

Silicone rubber is ideally suited for many automotive, appliance, electrical/electronic, and aerospace custom rubber requirements where high resistance to both high and low temperature extremes are required. Silicone has inherent resistance to ozone attack, ultraviolet light, corona discharge, moisture, and chemical attack. Silicone also has good tensile strength, elongation, compression-set, and abrasion resistance. Cost can be a limiting factor where extreme temperature resistance is not essential. Unreinforced silicones also have lower tensile strengths than most other members of the elastomer family. Silicone rubber is generally attacked by many solvents, oils, concentrated acids, dilute sodium hydroxide. Product examples using silicone include exhaust hoses.

Flocked rubber extrusions are precision-engineered sealing components that feature a soft, fiber-coated surface—typically applied to an EPDM rubber base—to reduce friction, noise, and wear during dynamic contact with glass or metal surfaces. The flocking process involves bonding tiny fibers (often nylon or polyester) to the extrusion using adhesive and electrostatic techniques, creating a velvety finish that enables smooth sliding while protecting adjacent components. Fairchild Industries produces high-quality flocked extrusions commonly used in automotive window channels, glass run seals, and door frames, where silent operation, UV resistance, and long-term durability are essential. These extrusions are especially effective at preventing squeaks, rattles, and abrasion while maintaining a secure seal against weather and debris. With decades of experience and advanced manufacturing capabilities, Fairchild delivers flocked rubber solutions that meet exacting automotive and industrial standards for performance, fit, and function.

SBR rubber is a versatile elastomer with above average flexibility, resilience, and abrasive resistance. SBR has good weathering characteristics and is resistant to mild-to-moderate chemicals, organic acids, and alcohols. SBR is easily formulated with high styrene resins to produce tough, hard rubber applications. Compounding with other elastomers greatly improves its oil and solvent resistance. It can be compounded to provide very fine abrasion, wear, and tensile qualities. SBR can be readily substituted for natural rubber in many applications with significant cost savings. Like natural rubber, SBR offers little resistance to oils and chemicals. SBR must be specially compounded to provide resistance to ozone, sunlight, and heat. Product examples using SBR include vehicle mats. Product examples using SBR include glass window sealing weatherstripping.

Viton rubber is a relatively new addition to the elastomer family; Fluoroelastomers resist a wide variety of corrosive fluids at elevated temperatures while retaining their mechanical properties. Other features include resistance to weathering, ozone, oxygen and flame, good tensile strength, resilience, and low compression set. Unlike many of their counterparts, Viton fluoroelastomers retain their basic properties at extremely high temperatures. Fluoroelastomers are still undergoing extensive development and their excellent mechanical stability under severe operating conditions making them an ideal component where the cost can be justified.