Rubber plates with KTW - FDA approval | NBR 65° +/-5° Shore rubber plates FDA white

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration), is an American supervisory authority, which is responsible for the control of all goods placed on the market in the USA. This includes all imports into the USA, therefore the regulations of the FDA authority are also important for European manufacturers. These regulations are binding for exporters to the USA. The FDA sets extremely strict requirements in the food sector where a large number of rubber and plastic products are used and as a result come into contact with food or drinking water. The materials must not release any ingredients into the food. As a result, all plastics that come into contact with food should be FDA-compliant.

Food grade rubber/elastomer is safe to use with food and meets the requirements of the FDA, Food Standards Agency. Food grade elastomer is non-toxic and does not discolor or alter the food with which it comes into contact. Food grade rubber qualities can be used safely in the production of food and beverages.

KTW stands for "plastic drinking water". Specifically, this guideline refers to the requirements for the material to be approved as such. This KTW regulation is intended to ensure that neither materials nor materials used in drinking water supply, such as seals or drinking water hoses, release undesirable substances into the drinking water by leaching. Secondly, it should be prevented that the products or materials used promote the growth of microorganisms such as algae or bacteria.

Hardness testing of elastomers (rubber) The hardness test of elastomers (rubber) which is most commonly used is the Shore hardness test according to DIN ISO 7619-1. The Shore hardness is the resistance of a rubber sample to the penetration of a conical body of certain dimensions under a defined compressive force. Depending on the design of the measuring body, a distinction is made between Shore A for softer elastomer compounds and Shore D for harder elastomer compounds. For a perfect measurement of Shore hardness, the standard specifies a sample thickness of 6.0 mm. If measurements are carried out on finished products with smaller wall thicknesses, they usually lead to incorrect results. Commercially available elastomer compounds for technical rubber mouldings have a hardness range of 20-90 Shore A