NBR vs Silicone Vacuum Suction Cups: Which Material Should You Choose?

When selecting a vacuum suction cup, the cup geometry and size are important, but the suction cup material can also significantly affect sealing performance, durability and suitability for the operating environment.

Two of the most commonly used elastomers for industrial vacuum suction cups are NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber)and silicone rubber (SIR).

NBR is widely used for general industrial handling because of its good mechanical properties, oil resistance and cost effectiveness. Silicone, on the other hand, is commonly selected for applications requiring a wider operating temperature range, excellent flexibility or good resistance to ozone and weathering.

Neither material is universally better. The right choice depends on the workpiece, temperature, surface condition, presence of oil or chemicals, required durability and operating environment.

This guide explains the main differences between NBR and silicone vacuum suction cups and how to select the appropriate material for your application.

What Is an NBR Vacuum Suction Cup?

NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber), also known as nitrile rubber, is one of the most commonly used elastomer materials for industrial vacuum suction cups.

NBR provides a useful combination of:

• Good oil resistance
• Good mechanical strength
• Good abrasion resistance
• Stable performance in general industrial environments
• Wide availability in different Shore hardnesses
• Cost-effective performance

Because of these characteristics, NBR suction cups are commonly used for handling glass, sheet metal, plastic components, wood panels, packaging materials and other industrial workpieces.

NBR is particularly useful where the suction cup may come into contact with oils or lubricants, such as in sheet metal handling and machining environments.

However, NBR generally has a more limited temperature range and lower resistance to ozone and weathering than silicone.

What Is a Silicone Vacuum Suction Cup?

Silicone rubber (SIR) is an elastomer known for its flexibility across a wide temperature range and its good resistance to ozone, weathering and aging.

Silicone suction cups are commonly considered for applications involving:

• Higher or lower operating temperatures
• Hot workpieces
• Applications requiring soft and flexible sealing lips
• Glass handling under specific temperature conditions
• Packaging and product handling
• Applications requiring specific food-contact compliant material grades

Silicone remains flexible across a wider temperature range than standard NBR compounds, making it useful when temperature is a major consideration.

However, silicone generally has poorer resistance to oils than NBR and may exhibit different wear characteristics in mechanically demanding applications.

NBR vs Silicone Suction Cups: Key Differences

The following table provides a general comparison between NBR and silicone vacuum suction cup materials.

*Actual performance depends on the specific material compound, hardness, suction cup geometry and operating conditions.

Material properties can vary significantly between formulations. Always refer to the specifications of the individual suction cup when evaluating a specific application.

Temperature Resistance: NBR vs Silicone

Temperature is one of the most important differences between NBR and silicone suction cups.

Typical NBR suction cup compounds are commonly used within approximately:

−10°C to +80°C

Silicone compounds can typically operate across a considerably wider range, for example:

−30°C to +200°C

These values should only be treated as general material reference ranges. The allowable operating temperature of an actual suction cup depends on the specific compound, geometry, duration of exposure and application conditions.

For standard factory environments and room-temperature handling, NBR is often sufficient.

Silicone becomes particularly useful when handling hot workpieces or operating in environments outside the practical temperature range of standard NBR.

Oil Resistance: Why NBR Is Often Preferred

NBR is well known for its resistance to many oils and is therefore widely used in industrial environments where suction cups come into contact with oily workpieces.

Typical examples include:

• Sheet metal handling
• Stamped metal components
• Machined parts
• Components with processing oils
• Automated metalworking equipment

Silicone generally provides considerably lower resistance to oils than NBR.

Therefore, when oil exposure is an important operating condition, NBR is usually the first material to evaluate, although compatibility with the specific oil and operating temperature should always be verified.

Abrasion and Wear Resistance

Suction cups used in automated equipment may perform thousands or even millions of handling cycles during their service life.

Repeated contact with the workpiece can gradually wear the sealing lip.

NBR generally provides good mechanical and wear characteristics for many industrial applications, making it a practical choice for high-cycle general handling.

Silicone may be selected for its temperature range and flexibility rather than primarily for maximum abrasion resistance.

However, actual service life cannot be determined from the base material alone. It is also influenced by:

• Suction cup geometry
• Material formulation
• Shore hardness
• Workpiece roughness
• Cycle frequency
• Side loading
• Operating temperature
• Contamination
• Vacuum level

Where particularly high abrasion resistance is required, polyurethane (PU) may also be worth considering.

Related Guide: [PU vs NBR Vacuum Suction Cups]

Flexibility and Sealing Performance

Material flexibility affects how easily a suction cup can conform to the surface of a workpiece.

Silicone is known for maintaining good flexibility across a broad temperature range. This can be advantageous for certain curved, uneven or temperature-sensitive applications.

NBR is also available in different hardnesses and can provide excellent sealing performance in general industrial applications.

However, material type alone does not determine sealing performance.

The ability of a suction cup to seal against a workpiece also depends strongly on:

• Shore hardness
• Sealing lip design
• Bellows geometry
• Workpiece curvature
• Surface roughness
• Vacuum level
• Contact pressure

Therefore, silicone should not automatically be considered better than NBR simply because it is softer or more flexible.

NBR vs Silicone for Glass Handling

Both NBR and silicone suction cups can be used for glass handling, depending on the application.

NBR is widely suitable for handling glass at normal operating temperatures and can provide good durability and cost effectiveness.

Silicone may be considered when:

• The glass or surrounding environment is at an elevated temperature
• Greater temperature flexibility is required
• A specific sealing behavior is needed
• The application requires a particular silicone material property

However, suction cup material should not be selected based solely on whether the workpiece is glass.

Glass surface condition, coating, temperature, orientation, cycle frequency and the risk of suction marks should also be considered.

For applications where suction marks or contamination on sensitive glass surfaces are a concern, a suitable suction cup cover may also be considered depending on the application.

NBR vs Silicone for Sheet Metal Handling

For sheet metal handling, NBR is commonly preferred, particularly where processing oils or lubricants are present.

Its combination of oil resistance, mechanical properties and cost effectiveness makes NBR suitable for many applications involving:

• Steel sheets
• Aluminum sheets
• Stamped components
• Oily metal parts
• CNC loading and unloading

Silicone is generally less suitable when continuous oil exposure is expected unless the specific silicone compound has been evaluated for the application.

The workpiece surface, sheet thickness, acceleration and cup geometry must also be considered when selecting a suction cup for sheet metal.

NBR vs Silicone for Food Handling

Silicone is commonly available in material grades designed for applications with specific food-contact requirements.

However, silicone should not automatically be described as food safe simply because the material is silicone.

Food-contact suitability depends on the specific compound and applicable regulatory requirements or certifications.

If a vacuum suction cup will come into direct contact with food, the material grade and relevant compliance documentation should therefore be verified for the intended application.

Does Shore Hardness Matter?

Yes. Two suction cups made from NBR can behave differently if they have different Shore hardnesses. The same applies to silicone.

Softer compounds generally conform more easily to curved, uneven or slightly structured surfaces.

Harder compounds generally provide greater dimensional stability and may resist deformation better under certain operating conditions.

However, softer does not automatically mean better sealing, and harder does not automatically mean higher lifting capacity.

The appropriate hardness depends on the combination of:

material + suction cup geometry + workpiece + operating conditions

Shore hardness of rubber materials can be measured using methods such as ISO 7619-1.

Does Suction Cup Material Affect Lifting Force?

The theoretical suction force is primarily determined by the differential pressure and effective suction area:

F = Δp × A

Therefore, simply changing a suction cup from NBR to silicone does not automatically increase its theoretical suction force if the effective suction area and vacuum level remain identical.

However, material can influence actual application performance because it affects sealing behavior, deformation, friction, wear and the ability of the suction cup to conform to the workpiece.

For example, a material that creates a more reliable seal on a particular surface may help the vacuum system maintain the required vacuum level more consistently.

For detailed force calculations, read:

[How to Calculate Vacuum Suction Cup Lifting Force & Carrying Capacity]

NBR or Silicone: Which Should You Choose?

As a general starting point:

Choose NBR when:

• You need a general-purpose industrial suction cup
• Oil resistance is important
• The workpiece is handled at normal industrial temperatures
• Good mechanical durability is required
• Cost effectiveness is important

Consider silicone when:

• The application involves higher or lower temperatures
• Temperature flexibility is important
• Ozone or weather resistance is required
• A particularly flexible material is beneficial
• A suitable certified silicone grade is required for a specific application

Neither recommendation replaces application-specific evaluation.

The workpiece material, surface, temperature, contamination, cycle frequency, suction cup geometry, Shore hardness and required carrying capacity should all be considered before selecting the suction cup material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NBR better than silicone for vacuum suction cups?

Neither material is universally better. NBR is commonly preferred for general industrial applications and environments involving oils, while silicone is particularly useful where a wider temperature range, flexibility or ozone resistance is required.

Which lasts longer, NBR or silicone suction cups?

Service life depends on the material formulation, suction cup geometry, workpiece, temperature, abrasion, contamination and cycle conditions. The base material alone is not sufficient to predict suction cup lifetime.

Can NBR suction cups handle oil?

NBR generally provides good resistance to many oils and is commonly used for handling oily industrial workpieces. Compatibility should still be verified for the specific oil, temperature and exposure conditions.

Can silicone suction cups withstand high temperatures?

Silicone generally provides a wider operating temperature range than NBR and is commonly used for elevated-temperature applications. The maximum allowable temperature of the specific suction cup should always be verified.

Are silicone suction cups food safe?

Certain silicone material grades can meet specific food-contact requirements, but silicone itself should not automatically be assumed to be food safe. Verify the compound and applicable compliance requirements for the intended application.

Is silicone softer than NBR?

Both NBR and silicone are available in different Shore hardnesses. Silicone is known for maintaining flexibility across a broad temperature range, but material type alone does not determine the hardness of a suction cup.

Does silicone provide more suction force than NBR?

Not inherently. Theoretical suction force is primarily determined by differential pressure and effective suction area. Material affects practical performance through factors such as sealing, deformation and friction.

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[How to Calculate Vacuum Suction Cup Lifting Force & Carrying Capacity]
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