To celebrate British Science Week taking place between 6 to 15 March, 2026, we wanted to put together a post for some new visitors to Rubberatkins which may help them understand what elastomers are with a little help from John McCormick, Senior R&D Chemist at Rubberatkins.
If you are a parent and want your children to start exploring science more, introduce them to the family of materials prevalent in many aspects of life – polymers and elastomers.
An elastomer is a polymer material designed to stretch, flex, and return to its original shape even under extreme conditions.
At their core, elastomers work because of:
✔ Flexible molecular chains
✔ Strong elastic recovery properties
✔ Resistance to deformation
From oil & gas to aerospace engineering, elastomers play a critical role in sealing and protecting complex systems.
Did you know…
Molecular Structure
– Elastomers are made of long polymer chains
– Chains are loosely bonded, allowing movement and flexibility
– Cross-linking gives the material its strength, memory and recoverability
Elastic Recovery
– High elastic strain recovery is a defining property
– Some elastomers can stretch up to 500 to 800% depending on formulation
Thermoset vs Thermoplastic Elastomers
– Thermoset elastomers are chemically cross-linked, high durability
– Thermoplastic elastomers are recyclable and re-mouldable
More details on British Science Week can be found here British Science Week homepage – British Science Week