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Nitrile rubber, also known as nitrile rubber, NBR, Buna-N, and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, is a synthetic rubber derived from acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene. [1] Trade names include Perbunan, Nipol, Krynac, and Europrene. This rubber is unique in that it is resistant to oils, fuels, and other chemicals.

NBR is used in the automotive and aerospace industries to make fuel and oil handling hoses, seals, gaskets, and self-sealing tanks. It is also used in the food service, medical, and nuclear industries to make protective gloves. NBR's stability at temperatures between -40 and 108 degree (-40 and 226 degree F) makes it ideal for aerospace applications. Nitrile rubber is also used in the production of molded goods, footwear, adhesives, sealants, sponges, foams, and floor mats.

The raw material is usually yellow, but may be orange or red, depending on the manufacturer. Its elongation at break is Greater than or equal to 300% and its tensile strength is Greater than or equal to 10 N/mm2 (10 MPa). Nitrile rubber has good resistance to mineral oils, vegetable oils, benzene/petrol, common dilute acids and alkalis.

An important factor in the performance of nitrile rubber is the ratio of acrylonitrile groups to butadiene groups, known as the ACN content. The lower the ACN content, the lower the glass transition temperature; however, the higher the ACN content, the better the polymer's resistance to the above-mentioned non-polar solvents. [5] Most applications requiring solvent resistance and low-temperature flexibility require an ACN content of 33%.

Uses of nitrile rubber include powder-free disposable non-latex gloves[6], automotive transmission belts, hoses, O-rings, gaskets, oil seals, V-belts, synthetic leather, printer forming rollers, and cable jacketing; NBR latex is also used in the preparation of adhesives and as a pigment binder.