If you or your team deals with containers carrying various liquids, you need rubber stoppers to plug their openings and prevent spillage and leaks. That is crucial, especially in facilities like laboratories, which deal with numerous hazardous liquids such as chloroform and acids. The same is true for manufacturers and companies handling other dangerous fluids like mineral spirits, floor polish, disinfectants, turpentine, weed killers, glues, adhesives, propane, gasoline, and oil-based paints. Rubber stoppers' uses are virtually limitless since they can be custom-made to fit any situation or application. Some of the reasons to opt for custom rubber stoppers are outlined below.

1.       Size

Standard rubber stoppers come in fixed sizes. If you have custom-made glassware or containers, finding a one-size-fits-all stopper for them may be problematic. Remember, if you run an extensive laboratory, you can't avoid custom equipment because there are no stoppers in the market that can seal them properly. Choosing to customize existing items is more pocket-friendly and effective in maximizing efficiency and space use than buying new components; therefore, it's highly advisable. Fortunately, ordering custom rubber stoppers allows you to specify the appropriate sizes. That ensures they fit snuggly on the containers and glassware that need stoppering.

2.       Type of material

One of the mistakes made by rookies is assuming any rubber is good rubber. On the contrary, there are two main rubber categories: natural and synthetic. Natural rubber comes from rubber trees and similar plants. However, manufacturers make synthetic rubber using chemical processes. Popular synthetic rubbers include butyl rubber, silicones, butadiene rubber, neoprene, and polysulfide rubbers. Not all rubbers are suitable for making stoppers. The best include urethane, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and neoprene. Extensive research helps you decide on the best material. Once that is done, you can instruct a custom manufacturer to make your stopper using it.

3.       Color

Most standard rubber stoppers are either black or white. That makes them a poor fit for any organization that identifies different substances using color-coding. If that applies to you, buy custom rubbers stoppers. If, for instance, your institute collects blood, you can use the different colors of custom stoppers to separate samples. For example, a red custom rubber stopper may indicate blood with no additives, while royal blue is for coagulation studies.

4.       Durability

Rubber is a durable material that can last decades in the correct application and conditions. So, if you buy and use custom rubber stoppers in an environment protected from direct sunlight, excess moisture, and deformation, they will last longer. Moreover, since manufacturers let you pick the material for your stoppers, you can choose a robust and long-lasting option like silicone because its products, including rubber stoppers, have a remarkable shelf life of approximately 20 years.

Contact a manufacturer near you to learn more about rubber stoppers.