Our Guide to Food Grade Rubber
20th June, 2024
In this guide, we'll delve into how food grade rubber is made, the characteristics it needs to be considered food grade, and the industries that rely on it.
Food grade rubber is a special type of rubber designed to meet strict safety standards, ensuring that it is safe for use in food processing, handling, and packaging applications.
In this guide, we’ll delve into how food grade rubber is made, the characteristics it needs to be considered food grade, and the industries that rely on it.
How food grade rubber is made
The manufacturing process of food grade rubber begins with the selection of high-quality raw materials. These materials must be free from harmful chemicals and contaminants.
The most commonly used materials include silicone, nitrile, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), and natural rubber. Each type of rubber has unique properties that make it suitable for different applications within the food industry.
The process
Material selection: Only materials that meet FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and other relevant regulatory standards are chosen. This ensures that the rubber will not react with food substances or leach harmful chemicals.
Compounding: The selected raw materials are combined with additives such as stabilisers, fillers, and colourants. These additives must also be food safe and comply with regulatory standards.
Mixing and Moulding: The compounded materials are thoroughly mixed and then shaped into the desired form using various moulding techniques. This can include extrusion, compression moulding, or injection moulding, depending on the specific application and required properties.
Curing: The rubber is then cured, a process that involves heating it to a specific temperature to set its final properties. This step is crucial for ensuring the rubber’s durability and elasticity.
Post-Processing and Testing: After curing, the rubber products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet all safety and performance criteria. This includes testing for tensile strength, elongation, compression set, and other relevant properties.
Characteristics of Food Grade Rubber
Non-Toxic: Food grade rubber must not contain any harmful chemicals or substances that could leach into food products. It must be free from toxins, heavy metals, and other hazardous materials.
Odourless and Tasteless: The rubber should not impart any taste or smell to the food it comes into contact with. This ensures that the quality and flavour of the food remain unaffected.
Resistant to Temperature Extremes: Food grade rubber must withstand a wide range of temperatures, from freezing conditions to high heat. This is particularly important in processes involving cooking, baking, or refrigeration.
Easy to Clean: Hygiene is crucial in food processing environments. Food grade rubber should be easy to clean and sanitise, maintaining its integrity after repeated cleaning cycles.
Here are some of the key sectors that rely on this material:
Food and Beverage Processing: Food grade rubber is used in equipment such as gaskets, seals, hoses, and conveyor belts. It ensures that food products do not come into contact with potentially harmful substances.
Pharmaceutical: In the pharmaceutical industry, food grade rubber is used for seals and gaskets in equipment that processes medications and other healthcare products. Its non-toxic nature makes it suitable for this highly regulated industry.
Dairy: The dairy industry uses food grade rubber for tubing, seals, and gaskets in milking machines and other processing equipment. The material’s resistance to bacteria and easy-to-clean properties are vital for maintaining product safety and quality.
Packaging: Food grade rubber is also essential in the packaging industry, where it is used for seals and gaskets in machinery that packages food products. This helps maintain the integrity and safety of the packaged goods.
Do you require food grade rubber?
Our products go through rigorous testing to make sure that they will withstand the extremes in temperatures and wear. We can guarantee that all our products comply with the FDA regulations and only contain approved substances.
Contact us to find out more.
