Author: Andrew Dawson

At CB Frost, we offer a large selection of sponge rubber materials to suit our clients’ specific requirements, including a range of specialist products for the rail industry.

Sponge rubber materials are highly versatile and are used across a very wide variety of industries. Generally, a closed cell material, sponge is ideally suited for sealing applications, preventing the ingress of air, water, oils, dust and other particles, depending on the sponge grade used. Inside a sponge rubber is a series of enclosed capsules that are not connected, providing the appearance of bubbles in the material. It is these cell walls that prevent outside bodies from passing through the sponge.

There are many benefits of sponge materials, including:

• Excellent sealing abilities
• Excellent shock absorption abilities
• Controlled compression and recovery
• Available in different densities, from high to low firmness
• It can be cut into sheet material, gaskets, washers and tape/strip
• It can be laminated with adhesive

EPDM sponge and Neoprene sponge are two of the most commonly requested materials by our customers. Both materials feature a closed cell structure and similar advantageous properties.

EPDM Sponge

EPDM sponge is commonly used as a sealing material and is well suited for use in outdoor and automotive applications as a result of its excellent resistance to ozone, UV, extreme temperatures (-40℃ to 110℃), and resistance to general weathering and abrasion.

EPDM sponge rubber is manufactured as blocks and converted/split into sheets or sheets are joined to form rolls in a wide variety of thicknesses. Using our in-house capabilities, we can convert sponge into strip/tape, gaskets, washers, plain and adhesive backed or supply extruded sponge profiles to suit customer needs.

More information on EPDM sponge.

Neoprene Sponge

Neoprene sponge is an excellent sealing material, with a high level of resistance to abrasion. As a chemically inert material, with good resistance to oils, and the ability to withstand temperatures of between -40℃ to 110℃, Neoprene is ideally suited for industrial applications. Like EPDM, Neoprene sponge rubber is a closed cell material with good UV resistance and recovery.

Like EPDM, Neoprene sponge is manufactured as blocks, these are then split into sheets or joined to form rolls of material in a variety of thicknesses, ranging between 1mm and 40mm. CB Frost convert sponge sheets/sheeting into gaskets, washers, tape/strip with or without an adhesive backing on one or both faces. We also supply neoprene sponge as extruded profiles to customers requirements.

More information on Neoprene sponge.

Sponge Rubber Tape and Gaskets

From our manufacturing facility in Birmingham, where we keep large quantities of sponge rubber material in stock, we can convert and supply sponge tape and gaskets in small and large production runs.

For small to medium quantities of tape or gasket products, we use our overhead presses to cut stock material down into the specified shapes. For high volumes, we use our HSC (high speed cutting machine), which operates at speeds of up to 100 strokes per minute whilst maintaining pinpoint precision and helping us to ensure excellent lead times.

To discuss your sponge rubber requirements, please call us on +44 (0) 121 773 8494. Our experienced team will happily guide you through the ideal materials and manufacturing processes to suit your requirements.

 

 

 

In our last blog, we focused on gaskets, their uses, and the manufacturing processes used to produce gaskets at CB Frost. In addition to creating flat gaskets and seals, cut from roll stock material using our highly efficient cutting presses, we also use a range of other processes to create simple and complex products, for example, rubber extrusions. We commonly use the extrusion process to create 3D products for an extensive variety of uses. 

The Rubber Extrusion Process

At CB Frost, we supply extruded profiles in a range of solid and sponge materials, such as EPDM, Neoprene, Nitrile, Silicone and Viton, each of which have unique qualities. We supply extruded profiles into various sectors, using our expertise to help specify the ideal material to suit each process, based on the strengths and weaknesses of each material to conditions that an extruded part will be subject to.

The extrusion process creates objects with a fixed cross-sectional profile. To achieve this, a raw rubber material (or combination of materials) is heated and then pushed through a die of the required cross-section, under high pressure. Rubber extrusion can create simple or highly complex profiles – it all depends on the complexity of the shaped die.

Dies are made from materials such as stainless steel, ensuring that they keep their shape and ensure accurate production for repeat production rubs. Stainless steel does not rust and is able to withstand the pressure it is subjected to during extrusion, making it an ideal die material.

Depending on customer requirements, we can supply extruded profiles in coil form, cut them to length to suit specific applications, or even fabricate them in order to produce gaskets or seals. 

Fabricated Rubber Extrusions

To create fabricated or bonded extrusions for use as seals, we can use hot splicing or vulcanising processes, depending on the quantity of rubber extrusions required. For low volume gasket production, vulcanised joining is a cost-effective and reliable process, joining profiles together to create a range of shapes, for example, tubing, square or rectangular profiles, or O-rings. The hot splicing process uses heat to bond profiles together effectively.

Common Applications

Extruded products can be made to suit many different applications in all sectors. Common applications include:

• Door and window seals
• Tubing
• Connectors
• Vibration reducing gaskets
• Window seals for rail and mass transit
• Concrete pipe and manhole gaskets
• Coupling gaskets

To discuss the benefits of extrusion, talk about your extrusion needs, or to ask for advice on extrusion materials, please call us on 0121 773 8494 and our experienced team will be glad to help you.

CB Frost are continually investing in modern production processes to offer a faster turn around and competitive prices.

Our cutting facility allows us to produce flat pressed parts (gaskets) and cater for quantities ranging from custom one offs to small, medium and large volumes. Our machinery allows us to produce small intricate gaskets, to larger, more complex shapes of up to 2mtrs long.

GRADES OF GASKET MATERIAL IN STOCK

Rubber

Neoprene, Commercial, Nitrile, EPDM, Commercial Insertion (1ply), Commercial Ribbed Matting, FDA Silicone, LSLT (Low Smoke Low Toxicity) EPDM, MF775 Silicone, HT200, Viton, Hypalon and Cork

Sponge

Neoprene, EPDM, Natural, PVC, General Purpose Silicone, Semi-Closed Cell EPDM, K-Cell Super Soft Nitrile, Rail SD Insulation, CBF Sil V0, HT800, BF1000, BF2000, Poron® EVExtend, Poron® 4701 Range, Poron® 4790-92 Extra Slow Rebound, Poron® XRD and Griswold Industrial Sponge

Foam

Polyethylene LD24 & LD45, Open Cell Polyurethane and Reticulated Foam

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

Our rubber, sponge and foam materials can be supplied in various densities or hardness to assist in solving problems. We hold a good mixture of general purpose and high-performance materials to suit your every need.

ADHESIVES

Gaskets can be supplied plain or pre-laminated with pressure sensitive adhesives; we have an extensive range of adhesives to suit numerous applications, our sales team are on hand to help you with your requirements.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

With over 150 years live service experience at CB Frost you can trust us to deliver. Our team have the experience and technical knowledge to help design and develop the correct solution for your application.

Our aim is to work with you and form long lasting mutually beneficial relationships. For more information, please call our experienced sales team on +44 (0)121 773 8494.

OUR INDUSTRY LEADING MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

As industry leaders in the rubber and plastics manufacturing industry, not only do we provide the highest quality products and services, but we also provide an extremely diverse catalogue of products. From our manufacturing base in Birmingham, we have the capabilities to deliver products for applications in all major industries.

Let’s talk through some of the most important benefits of working with CB Frost and the factors that make us a rubber and plastics industry leader.

OUR STOCK OF MATERIALS

At CB Frost, we boast an extremely impressive range of rubber and plastic materials to suit practically any application. We will work with our customers to ensure that we supply the materials with the characteristics that will best suit their unique requirements, providing the most durable and most effective finished product.

We pride ourselves in always keeping roll stock of our full catalogue of materials available for order and conversion, including:

• Neoprene
• EPDM
• Silicone
• Nitrile
• Polyurethane
• Polyethylene
• PVC
• Cork

We also supply a wide range of specialist materials, including Armaflex® rail materials, LSLT fire safe materials, Class O materials, Non-Halogen sponge, and Rogers Poron® Urethane.

OUR MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

Whether you are looking for standard or completely bespoke products, from our Birmingham manufacturing facility, we have the inhouse capabilities for the production of a long list of products, including:

Sheeting –  We supply sponge, foam and rubber sheeting in various grades, thicknesses and colour

Gaskets – We manufacture gaskets in quantities ranging from custom one offs to very large volumes

Tape – We strip roll stock into strips and adhesive backed tape to suit all requirements

Washers – We produce flat pressed die cut washers as individually cut parts or kiss-cut on rolls with adhesive backing, for easy peeling

Extrusions – We offer custom made extrusions in a wide range of sponge and solid form materials

Fabrications – We can fabricate a wide range of gaskets, including vulcanised joined gaskets and hot spliced joined extruded gaskets

Mouldings – We offer a wide range of moulded components and can reverse engineer exisiting parts

Edge Protection Seals – We specialise in custom made extruded metal reinforced silicone profiles

Our extensive range of stock materials and inhouse manufacturing capabilities helps us to ensure rigorous quality control processes and fast lead times, ensuring that the finished product fits your requirements, meets or exceeds your expectations, and arrives with you in good time.

LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE

As leaders in our field, we are committed to providing the highest level of customer service. We will work with you to find the materials that will best fit your unique requirements, ensuring high performance, durable and long-lasting finished products. As well as providing assistance in material choice, we will also help you to reduce overall costs by reducing material waste wherever possible.

Whether you are an SME, or a global organisation, you will be in safe hands with CB Frost. To discuss your needs, or to talk through our manufacturing capabilities, please call our experienced team on +44 (0)121 773 8494

 

 

 

At CB Frost, we have the capabilities to produce gaskets of all shapes and sizes, simple and complex, as custom one-offs or large production runs, and in an extensive range of materials to suit applications across all industrial sectors. The big question is, what is a gasket?

Gaskets are found in so many different products, and in all industries. For example, gaskets are found in the automotive industry, the rail industry, aerospace, construction, food processing, pharmaceuticals, water, oil, gas, petrochemicals and many more sectors.

People can mean many different things when they talk about gaskets, but simply put, a gasket can be described as a component that sits between two surfaces. Gaskets can be used for a wide variety of different uses, including vibration reduction, noise and sound reduction, hygiene, packaging, and most commonly, sealing.

Gasket or Seal?

You may well have the impression that gaskets and seals are the same thing as they perform the same function, however, there are several key differences. As stated above, gaskets create a joint between two static surfaces, and are often compressed in order to provide a sealing function to prevent leakage between these two parts.

A seal is usually a dynamic part that prevents leakage between parts that often show sliding or relative motion, and prevents foreign particles such as dust or moisture from entering a joint. 

Whilst a seal is not a gasket, a gasket is categorised as one of the most important types of seal. Other seals can include mechanical seals, shaft seals, valve seals, liquid seals, o-ring seals, and rotary seals.

 

What are Gaskets Manufactured From

Gaskets can be manufactured from many different materials, depending on the characteristics needed for their intended application. Most frequently, gaskets are made from flexible materials that are highly compressible. At CB Frost, we manufacture gaskets from our extensive range of rubber, sponge, foam and cork materials, which are available in different grades and specifications to suit the requirements of the gasket in question. 

Gaskets may be subjected to all kinds of environments for which the gasket material will be required to resist. For example, in order to function effectively, gaskets may need to be resistant to acid, alkaline, extreme low and high temperatures, UV, ozone, pressure, and/or different weather conditions. 

Our specialist team are on hand to discuss your gasket needs and help you choose the right material for your gasket application.

Gasket Manufacturing

At our manufacturing base in Birmingham, we have invested in the technology to allow us to produce gaskets in all quantities. For high volume requirements, our high speed cutting and kiss cutting press allows us to efficiently manufacture gaskets at considerable speed, whilst maintaining complete precision. We can also provide gaskets with adhesive backing if necessary.

In addition to cutting gaskets, we also have the capabilities to cut sheeting, tape and washers, as well as extruding, moulding and fabrication.

Call our team today on 0121 773 8494 to talk through your requirements with our experienced sales team.

As industry leaders in the rubber and plastics manufacturing industry, not only do we provide the highest quality products and services, but we also provide an extremely diverse catalogue of products. From our manufacturing base in Birmingham, we have the capabilities to deliver products for applications in all major industries.

Let’s talk through some of the most important benefits of working with CB Frost and the factors that make us a rubber and plastics industry leader.

Our stock of materials

At CB Frost, we boast an extremely impressive range of rubber and plastic materials to suit practically any application. We will work with our customers to ensure that we supply the materials with the characteristics that will best suit their unique requirements, providing the most durable and most effective finished product.

We pride ourselves in always keeping roll stock of our full catalogue of materials available for order and conversion, including:

• Neoprene
• EPDM
• Silicone
• Nitrile
• Polyurethane
• Polyethylene
• PVC
• Cork

We also supply a wide range of specialist materials, including Armaflex® rail materials, LSLT fire safe materials, Class O materials, Non-Halogen sponge, and Rogers Poron® Urethane.

Our manufacturing capabilities

Whether you are looking for standard or completely bespoke products, from our Birmingham manufacturing facility, we have the inhouse capabilities for the production of a long list of products, including:

• Sheeting – We supply sponge, foam and rubber sheeting in various grades, thicknesses and colour
• Gaskets – We manufacture gaskets in quantities ranging from custom one offs to very large volumes
• Tape – We strip roll stock into strips and adhesive backed tape to suit all requirements
• Washers – We produce flat pressed die cut washers as individually cut parts or kiss-cut on rolls with adhesive backing, for easy peeling
• Extrusions – We offer custom made extrusions in a wide range of sponge and solid form materials
• Fabrications – We can fabricate a wide range of gaskets, including vulcanised joined gaskets and hot spliced joined extruded gaskets
• Mouldings – We offer a wide range of moulded components and can reverse engineer exisiting parts
• Edge Protection Seals – We specialise in custom made extruded metal reinforced silicone profiles

Our extensive range of stock materials and inhouse manufacturing capabilities helps us to ensure rigorous quality control processes and fast lead times, ensuring that the finished product fits your requirements, meets or exceeds your expectations, and arrives with you in good time.

Leading customer service

As leaders in our field, we are committed to providing the highest level of customer service. We will work with you to find the materials that will best fit your unique requirements, ensuring high performance, durable and long-lasting finished products. As well as providing assistance in material choice, we will also help you to reduce overall costs by reducing material waste wherever possible.

Whether you are an SME, or a global organisation, you will be in safe hands with CB Frost. To discuss your needs, or to talk through our manufacturing capabilities, please call our experienced team on +44 (0)121 773 8494 or contact us here.

 

 

As a market leader in supplying sponge, foam, and rubber materials for a wide range of industrial sectors, CB Frost are committed to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation. We have developed an extensive range of fire safe materials, the latest of which is our LSLT neoprene sponge.

Why LSLT Neoprene Sponge?

When we describe a sponge as LSLT, this means that it is a low smoke low toxicity material. And when exposed to fire, LSLT materials do not generate high levels of smoke or toxic fumes. At the early stages of a fire, smoke and toxic fumes are often more dangerous than the fire itself. For example, for occupants of a vehicle such as a train, a buildup of toxic smoke in an enclosed space could make breathing very difficult, so exiting the vehicle would be increasingly hard, even if a fire is not spreading quickly. 

LSLT materials can be just as useful in public buildings (material choice would be dependent on the fire specification and where used). For example, should an airport, train station, public office, or hospital need to be evacuated in the case of a fire, a buildup of smoke could be a considerable problem for people who are not familiar with the layout of a building. 

To improve the safety of insulation materials, we supply a range of LSLT materials that do not emit toxic smoke and fumes. Our LSLT Neoprene sponge material fits into this category of fire safe materials. It is a pure Neoprene sponge, EN45545-2 compliant (the European specification for fire, smoke and toxicity), and widely used in a range of applications, including:

• Enclosure seals
• Anti-rattle seals
• Gap fillers
• HVAC sealing 
• Access panel seals

At CB Frost, we can supply LSLT Neoprene sponge on rolls of 1 metre wide and in a range of thicknesses, or converted in house to produce:

• Gaskets
• Strip/tape
• Sheets

The table below shows LSLT Neoprene Sponge’s EN45545 compliance:

Smoke, Flame and Toxicity – EN45545-2	LSLT Neoprene Sponge
R22 – Interior Seals	HL1, HL2
R23 – Exterior Seals	HL1, HL2

For further information on LSLT Neoprene Sponge, you can download our data sheet, or for assistance in finding the right LSLT material to suit your requirements, simply call us on +44 (0) 121 773 8494. Our experienced team will be glad to assist you.

Food grade, or FDA silicone rubber is a highly resilient and versatile material that is safe and suitable for use in the food and drinks industries. Everywhere in the world, food safety is absolutely vital, and therefore, any material used in the production, storage, or transportation of food and drink must be compliant, and specially designed to meet the unique requirements of the food and beverage processing industries. 

At CB Frost, our general purpose silicone rubber complies with the FDA international guidelines for food grade elastomers, approved to 21CFR155.2600 and EC 1935/2004. FDA silicone is completely non-toxic and contains no chemical fillers or byproducts.

The key advantages of Food Grade Silicone Rubber

• FDA silicone rubber is non-toxic and odourless, ensuring food and drink is safe for consumption after contact with silicone applications.
• Silicone rubber is highly resistant to extreme temperatures, both low and high. It doesn’t degrade when in contact with heat or cold.
• It exhibits excellent resistance to UV, ozone, and general weathering, ensuring that it is well suited to use in outdoor applications.
• Silicone rubber is resistant to most chemicals, making it ideal for food processing.
• Silicone is highly resistant and doesn’t degrade quickly, ensuring that silicone rubber gaskets and other products have a long life-span, helping prevent leakages and failures. It doesn’t harden, crack or become brittle over time.
• FDA silicone features high elasticity and compressibility, ensuring that it retains its intended shape.
• It is WRAS approved for drinking water. Silicone is also naturally water repellent, making it an ideal sealant.
• Food grade silicone is easy to wash and clean after use, ensuring that it stays fit for purpose.
• Various colours are available to suit different purposes.

Key uses of FDA Silicone

Silicone rubber is widely used by manufacturers in food processing and packaging, particularly for applications such as machine parts and gaskets that come into contact with food and drink. As a non-reactive material, silicone is extremely useful for preventing food contamination.

Silicone is also being used as a reusable alternative to single use plastic, and therefore is having a positive influence on the environment. It’s also important to consider that it is manufactured from abundant natural resources.

In addition to food production, silicone rubber is also widely used for medical applications and laboratories where preventing contamination is essential.

Contact CB Frost

To learn more about the properties of FDA silicone rubber, you can download a detailed data sheet from our website. Should you have any further questions, or wish to discuss your silicone requirements, please call us on +44(0)121 773 8494 or contact us here, and we will be happy to assist you.

Following a successful move to our new premises at Matrix Point, Birmingham, CB Frost are currently working with skeleton staffing to supply essential industries during the coronavirus lockdown.

Yesterday, we were contacted by a company manufacturing and supplying protective visors for the NHS. We were asked if we could supply some sponge material for the insulation/protective seals to fit round the visors.

We immediately agreed to provide the NHS supplier with some self-adhesive polyethylene, free of charge. Our team are backing polyethylene roll stock material with adhesive, which will then be sent to the NHS supplier, who will cut the material to suit its purpose, and send the finished visors to the NHS to provide protection for frontline workers treating COVID-19 patients.

You can be assured that CB Frost are adhering to government guidelines, with staffing limited to a skeleton crew and all members of the team maintaining a two-metre distance at all times and sticking to strict hygiene standards. Employee safety comes first.

CB Frost Sales Director, Mark Jones, said “We are proud to be playing a small part in supporting essential workers in the NHS during this time.

“We are extremely thankful for the courageous work of the NHS throughout the coronavirus pandemic, so we did not hesitate to provide sponge material for protective visors free of charge when asked by an NHS supplier.”

For more information on CB Frost’s catalogue of materials, and our inhouse manufacturing capabilities, please call +44 (0)121 773 8494.