BR NDBR
Grade
Pick for the best abrasion resistance and lowest rolling-resistance hysteresis in premium truck and passenger tire treads.
Values for the NDBR condition
Other BR grades and fills
BR is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at BR.
Compare all 9 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shore A 50 compound | Soft, highly resilient BR compound for damping pads, low-temperature seals and soling with maximum rebound. | — | 10 | 550 | 10 Shore D |
Lithium-catalysed low-cis | Choose for HIPS/ABS impact modification and easier mill processing (less cold flow) rather than for maximum abrasion. | — | 12 | 500 | 10 Shore D |
Oil-extended BR | Pick when high-molecular-weight BR must be processed at low mixing energy or when soft, high-filler tread compounds are needed. | — | 12 | 520 | 9 Shore D |
HI-CIS-NIDefault High-cis BR, Ni/Co-catalysed (BR9000 / BR1502 type) | Default workhorse high-cis BR (≈96 % cis) for tire treads/sidewalls, belt covers and shoe soles blended with NR/SBR. | — | 15 | 450 | 12 Shore D |
Shore A 60 compound | Standard reinforced BR vulcanizate — the reference compound for datasheet mechanical values. | — | 15 | 450 | 13 Shore D |
High-vinyl BR | Use where wet grip and damping matter more than low hysteresis — high-performance tread blends with S-SBR. | — | 16 | 420 | 13 Shore D |
NDBRThis page neodymium-catalysed very high cis (≥96–99 %) | Pick for the best abrasion resistance and lowest rolling-resistance hysteresis in premium truck and passenger tire treads. | — | 17 | 480 | 12 Shore D |
Shore A 70 compound | Harder, more abrasion-resistant BR compound for belt covers, tread bases and industrial wheels. | — | 18 | 350 | 20 Shore D |
High-trans polybutadiene | Specialty semi-crystalline BR for golf-ball cores, high green-strength tire components and NR-substitute blends. | — | 20 | 400 | 22 Shore D |
What is BR NDBR?
BR NDBR is BR in the NDBR grade — pick for the best abrasion resistance and lowest rolling-resistance hysteresis in premium truck and passenger tire treads. BR NDBR has a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi), weaker than 71% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 480% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (6.53×10⁻⁴ Msi). BR NDBR has a density of 0.93 g/cm³ (0.0336 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -108°C (-162 °F). HI-CIS-NI is the default condition FabDigit quotes; NDBR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 480%, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 81% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.93 g/cm³ (0.0336 lb/in³), better than 78% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 75% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (6.53×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 90% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 20/100, worse than 88% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2%, worse than 81% of polymer grades
BR NDBR properties
Typical room-temperature values for BR NDBR; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are BR reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
BR NDBR has a density of 0.93 g/cm³ (0.0336 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -108°C (-162 °F).
Mechanical10
BR NDBR has a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi), weaker than 71% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 480% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (6.53×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal8
BR NDBR is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.22 W/m·K (0.127 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 60% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 220 µm/m·K (122.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
BR NDBR is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 98% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of BR NDBR takes about 96 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability6
BR NDBR's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability very good (80/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with BR NDBR
Is BR easy to machine?
Cured BR is best cut by water-jet, die-cutting or cryogenic grinding; conventional machining smears and heats the part.
Can BR be welded?
Not weldable — join by vulcanised splices, unvulcanised gum-strip build-up or cyanoacrylate/chloroprene adhesives after abrasion and primer.
Can BR be formed, bent or molded?
Raw BR cold-flows and bands poorly on the mill, so it is normally masterbatched with NR/SBR and 30–60 phr black; compression, transfer or injection cure at 145–180 °C with sulfur/CBS systems.
What surface finishes work on BR?
Deflash by cryogenic tumbling; surfaces can be chlorinated or plasma/primer treated for adhesion; add wax, antiozonant and carbon black for outdoor colour and ozone protection.
BR chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| cis-1,4 microstructureNi/Co/Nd high-cis grades; Li grades ≈30–40 % cis | 92 – 99 | 96 |
| trans-1,4 microstructurehigh-cis grades; TBR grades >70 % | 1 – 5 | 2 |
| 1,2-vinyl microstructureHVBR grades 50–90 % | 1 – 4 | 2 |
| volatile matterGB/T 8657 bale specification | ≤ 0.75 | 0.4 |
| ashGB/T 8657 | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| antioxidant (non-staining)added to bale rubber | 0.2 – 1 | 0.5 |
| carbon black (in typical vulcanizate)phr, not wt % of polymer; N330/N550 typical | 30 – 60 | 50 |
| 1,3-butadiene (repeat unit)homopolymer; no comonomer | balance | — |
BR NDBR — frequently asked
What is BR NDBR used for?
BR NDBR is typically used for tire sidewalls, golf ball cores, conveyor belts and rubber blends. In short: highest-resilience diene rubber; lowest Tg at -105 °C; blend component, poor green strength.
What is the tensile strength of BR NDBR?
BR NDBR has a typical tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 71% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is BR NDBR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades). Cured BR is best cut by water-jet, die-cutting or cryogenic grinding; conventional machining smears and heats the part.
Can BR NDBR be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not weldable — join by vulcanised splices, unvulcanised gum-strip build-up or cyanoacrylate/chloroprene adhesives after abrasion and primer.
What surface finishes work on BR NDBR?
Deflash by cryogenic tumbling; surfaces can be chlorinated or plasma/primer treated for adhesion; add wax, antiozonant and carbon black for outdoor colour and ozone protection.
Can BR NDBR be formed, bent or molded?
Raw BR cold-flows and bands poorly on the mill, so it is normally masterbatched with NR/SBR and 30–60 phr black; compression, transfer or injection cure at 145–180 °C with sulfur/CBS systems.
What is the maximum service temperature of BR NDBR?
BR NDBR is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F), and briefly to 120°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- GB/T 8657 (BR) — SAC (2019)
- ASTM D5900 / D3568 — Standard practices for rubber test recipes and BR evaluation — ASTM (2020)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics & Elastomers — ASM International (1988)
- Rubber Technology: Compounding and Testing for Performance — Hanser (2009)
- Buna CB / Nd-BR grade datasheets — ARLANXEO / LANXESS (2023)
- Polymer Handbook (4th ed.) — polybutadiene thermal and optical constants — Wiley (1999)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.