Applications include fuel lines,hoses, automobile parts, structural adhesives, oil-resistantclothing or articles, gloves, and shoe soles and heels.Gloves made of nitrile rubber are comparable to neoprenegloves in their resistance to organic solvents; nitrile rubbergloves were superior in resistance to II-hexane and inferior inresistance to phenol. NBR is used for hoses, gaskets, andprotective clothing.
NBR is important for its high oil and temperature resistance.Flexibility at very low temperatures is obtained with loweracrylonitrile content: in turn, this sacrifices some oil resistance.Low-temperature flexibility for some applications canbe modified by plasticizers or blends. Additional propertiesinclude resistance to heat, abrasion, and water, as well asresistance to gas permeation. NBR is frequently plasticizedwith organic phosphate, phthalic ester, or dibenzyl ether.