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PNR · hardness band · default condition

PNR-SA40

Properties of the SA40 condition, compared with the other PNR grades.

Default engineering compound: best compromise of damping, strength and processability for molded damping parts.

High cost $$$$
Quote a part in PNR-SA40PNR overview

What is PNR-SA40?

PNR-SA40 is PNR heat treated to SA40 — default engineering compound: best compromise of damping, strength and processability for molded damping parts. PNR-SA40 has a tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi), weaker than 81% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (4.35×10⁻⁴ Msi). PNR-SA40 has a density of 1 g/cm³ (0.0361 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -25°C (-13 °F).

Advantages

  • Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 400%, better than 86% of polymer grades
  • Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 82% of polymer grades

Limitations

  • Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades
  • Low stiffness — 0 GPa (4.35×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 93% of polymer grades
  • High mold shrinkage — 2%, worse than 81% of polymer grades

PNR-SA40 properties

Typical room-temperature values for PNR-SA40 — 8 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every PNR grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.

Physical3

PNR-SA40 has a density of 1 g/cm³ (0.0361 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -25°C (-13 °F).

Density1 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
Glass Transition (Tg)-25°C-13 °F
Water Absorption (24 h)0.5%

Mechanical8

PNR-SA40 has a tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi), weaker than 81% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (4.35×10⁻⁴ Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus0 GPa4.35×10⁻⁴ Msi
Shear Modulus0 GPa1.45×10⁻⁴ Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.49
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)8 MPa1.2 ksi
Elongation at Break400%
Hardness, Shore A40 Shore A
Tear Strength15 kN/m85.7 lbf/in
Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)35%

Thermal8

PNR-SA40 is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 220 µm/m·K (122.2 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity1,800 J/kg·K0.43 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)220 µm/m·K122 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)90°C194 °F
Min Service Temperature-40°C-40 °F
Flammability (UL 94)HB (unfilled/oil-extended compound; V-0 only with FR package)
Limiting Oxygen Index18%
Max Service Temperature (short-term)120°C248 °F

Electrical4

PNR-SA40 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 18 kV/mm (457.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in
Dielectric Strength18 kV/mm457 V/mil
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)3.5
Volume Resistivity1×10¹³ Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental2

UV resistance is fair.

UV / Weathering ResistanceFair35/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryGood resistance to water, dilute acids/alkalis and alcohols; swells strongly in hydrocarbons, aromatics and chlorinated solvents (this oil-uptake is exploited in sorbent grades); poor ozone/UV resistance without protective package.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of PNR-SA40 takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)105 MJ/kg45,142 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)4.5 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water180 L/kg21.6 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content0%

Manufacturability4

PNR-SA40's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades); formability excellent (85/100).

MachinabilityPoor20/100
Formability (cold)Excellent85/100
Mold Shrinkage2%
Mold Temperature (typ.)160°C320 °F

Common Calculations4

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated8 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated0 MN·m/kg
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated0.1 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated2

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.

Other PNR grades and fills

PNR is also supplied in 8 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the PNR overview.

Working with PNR-SA40

Is PNR easy to machine?

Too soft and tacky for conventional cutting — use water-jet, die cutting or cryogenic trimming; freeze before grinding.

Can PNR be welded?

Not weldable; join by co-vulcanization, adhesive bonding (cyanoacrylate/polyurethane after surface priming) or mechanical capture.

Can PNR be formed, bent or molded?

Mix on cold two-roll mill or internal mixer at low temperature (oil is absorbed rapidly), then compression/transfer/injection mold and cure 5–20 min at 150–170 °C with sulfur or peroxide.

What surface finishes work on PNR?

No plating or painting; surface can be textured in the mold, dusted with talc/silicone to kill tack, or coated with a flock/lacquer for abrasion and oil-bleed control.

PNR 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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
extender oil (naphthenic/paraffinic or ephr on polymer; sets hardness and Tg of the compound50 – 500200
carbon black / mineral fillerphr, reinforcement0 – 10030
sulfur or peroxide cure system + activatphr2 – 85
antioxidant / antiozonantphr1 – 32
polynorbornene (bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-enebase polymer, Mw typically >2×10^6 g/mol, ~90% trans ring-opened unitsbalance—

PNR-SA40 — frequently asked

What is PNR-SA40 used for?

PNR-SA40 is typically used for vibration damping mounts, sound insulation and oil-extended soft compounds. In short: softest oil-extended elastomer; high-hysteresis damping compounds; shore A 15 achievable.

What is the tensile strength of PNR-SA40?

PNR-SA40 has a typical tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi) — weaker than 81% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.

Is PNR-SA40 easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades). Too soft and tacky for conventional cutting — use water-jet, die cutting or cryogenic trimming; freeze before grinding.

Can PNR-SA40 be welded?

Not weldable; join by co-vulcanization, adhesive bonding (cyanoacrylate/polyurethane after surface priming) or mechanical capture.

What surface finishes work on PNR-SA40?

No plating or painting; surface can be textured in the mold, dusted with talc/silicone to kill tack, or coated with a flock/lacquer for abrasion and oil-bleed control.

Can PNR-SA40 be formed, bent or molded?

Mix on cold two-roll mill or internal mixer at low temperature (oil is absorbed rapidly), then compression/transfer/injection mold and cure 5–20 min at 150–170 °C with sulfur or peroxide.

What is the maximum service temperature of PNR-SA40?

PNR-SA40 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

  1. Norsorex APX polynorbornene technical data — Astrotech Advanced Elastomer Products / Zeon (2020)
  2. Rubber Technology Handbook — specialty elastomers chapter — Hanser (2012)
  3. Polymer Handbook (Tg and density of polynorbornene) — Wiley (2005)
  4. ASTM D2000 — classification system for rubber products — ASTM (2018)
  5. Norsorex (2025)

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.