Sections

Latest News

News 23 Jun 2026

Rolling Stock Networking: Connect with CB Frost at RSN 2026

At CB Frost & Co, we don’t believe in waiting around when a great opportunity knocks. That is exactly why...

News 4 Jun 2026

Why Choosing the Right EN45545 Gasket is Critical for Rail Industry Safety

In the modern rail industry passenger safety dictates every phase of vehicle design, engineering, and manufacturing. Major structural components, advanced...

Sponge Rubber – Advantages and Applications

Uncategorised

October 1, 2020

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...

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.

Keep up to date with the
latest CB Frost & Co news

01
03
CB Frost Sponsor Local Football Team
CB Frost Sponsor Local Football Team

CB Frost are proud to sponsor Birmingham based football team, the Castle Vale Concords Over 35s. Castle Vale Concords play in Division 1 of the Central Warwickshire Over 35s Football League and the 2019-2020 season is the third season they have played together as an over 35s team. In the 2017-2018, the Concords finished runners […]

The new fire safety standard set to change the rail industry – EN 45545
The new fire safety standard set to change the rail industry – EN 45545

When times change, it pays to work with good suppliers. During 2018, the fire standard EN 45545-2 will become the mandatory fire safety standard for the rail industry. For manufactures and engineers, that means preparing well in advance to make sure their components are compliant with the new regulations. Working with an excellent supplier, one […]

The CB Frost Guide to Rubber Extrusions
The CB Frost Guide to Rubber Extrusions

As specialist rubber and plastics manufacturers, as well as supplying a comprehensive range of materials to different industries, using our in-house facilities, we supply a range of bespoke products to meet customer specifications. To ensure that we always at the very least, meet expectations, we work closely with customers to make certain that all their […]

Choosing Silicone Foam for the Rail Industry
Choosing Silicone Foam for the Rail Industry

The rail industry is an ever-evolving sector, none more so than in the UK as the HS2 railway is currently under construction. Technology is advancing to meet the needs of modern rail engineering and CB Frost offer a range of cellular silicones foams to meet the increasing demands for lightweight, compliant materials in the rail […]

CB Frost at the Rail Industry Technology Roadshow
CB Frost at the Rail Industry Technology Roadshow

The Rail Industry Technology Roadshow is currently underway, taking in major sites across the UK, including Siemens, Alstom, Network Rail, Bombardier Rail, Hitachi and CAF. As part of CB Frost’s on-going development, we have taken it upon ourselves to showcase our material range and capabilities, literally taking them on the road as part of this […]

Rubber Mouldings – Compression, Transfer and Injection Moulding
Rubber Mouldings – Compression, Transfer and Injection Moulding

As specialist rubber manufacturers, we have been supplying rubber mouldings for a range of industries for many years, including automotive, construction, electrical enclosures, heating/HVAC, lighting, medical, the MOD and the rail and mass transit industry. With our vast experience and manufacturing capabilities, we ensure that all moulded rubber products are matched to the customer’s requirements […]

CB Frost Invest in New High-Speed Cutting and Kiss-Cutting Machine
CB Frost Invest in New High-Speed Cutting and Kiss-Cutting Machine

As a company that believes in ‘quality without compromise’, we are always seeking to find new ways to improve our processes, whether this be through continued staff training and development, or investment in new technologies to increase efficiency and allow us to provide a wider range of bespoke products for our customers. To help increase […]

Work Underway on CB Frost’s New Premises
Work Underway on CB Frost’s New Premises

Following the announcement of our expansion and relocation, work is now underway on our new premises. Exterior signage has been installed on the front of the building and internal work will begin imminently. Our new signs display our updated logo, along with our contact details (which will remain the same). In the near future, plant […]

FDA Silicone Rubber for the Food and Drink Industry
FDA Silicone Rubber for the Food and Drink Industry

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 […]