---
type: "WebPage"
title: "Rubber analysis: identifying the source of a material drift"
description: "Do you want to carry out a rubber analysis and identify the source of a material drift? A material drift can compromise the quality of your rubber parts Changes in hardness, loss of elasticity, premature cracking, curing defects, colour change..."
resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-analysis-elastomer-rubber/rubber-analysis-identifying-the-source-of-a-material-drift/"
tags: ["EN", "Thomas GAUTIER"]
timestamp: "2026-07-17T12:59:05Z"
published: "2026-07-17T12:59:04Z"
language: "en"
author: "Laure Durieux"
---

# Rubber analysis: identifying the source of a material drift

## Do you want to carry out a rubber analysis and identify the source of a material drift?

### A material drift can compromise the quality of your rubber parts

Changes in [hardness](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/mechanical-laboratory-test/hardness-analysis-and-measurement-laboratory.md), loss of [elasticity](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/plastics-processing-polymers/laboratory-measurement-of-elasticity-on-polymers.md), premature [cracking](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/crack-analysis-laboratory.md), curing defects, [colour change](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/rd/problem-solving-related-research-and-development/change-of-color-of-a-product-how-to-solve-the-problem.md) or reduced mechanical performance… A material drift in a rubber compound can have many causes and directly affect the compliance of your products.

To identify the cause, it is necessary to go beyond standard checks and precisely characterise the formulation, raw materials, additives and any possible contamination.

The FILAB laboratory supports manufacturers in the [analysis of elastomer materials](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-analysis-elastomer-rubber.md) in order to identify the source of material drifts, secure supply chains and improve the reliability of manufacturing processes.

## The FILAB laboratory supports you in rubber analysis and in identifying the source of a material drift

### Our analytical services for rubber and identification of the source of material drift

- Comparative analysis of [rubber formulation](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/rd/problem-solving-related-research-and-development/problem-solving-related-to-the-formulation.md) rubber
- [Identification and quantification of additives](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/polymer-additives.md)
- Analysis of mineral fillers
- [Analysis of crosslinking agents](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-determination-crosslinking-agents.md)
- [Characterization of aging](https://filab.fr/nos-prestations/expertise/essais-vieillissement-materiaux.md) or [degradation](https://filab.fr/en/sectors-of-activity/health-pharmaceutical-cosmetics/forced-degradation-study-in-laboratory.md)

### Our technical resources for rubber analysis and identification of the source of a material drift

 [### FTIR](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-ftir-spectroscopy.md) [### Pyrolysis GC-MS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/py-gc-ms-pyrolysis-gc-ms.md) [### TGA](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/tga-tga-ftir-and-tga-ms-analysis-at-filab-laboratory.md) [### DSC](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-dsc-calorimetric.md) [### ICP](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-icp-icp-ms-icp-aes.md) [### X-ray fluorescence](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/x-ray-fluorescence-analysis-laboratory-xrf.md) [### XRD](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/x-ray-crystallography-laboratory-xrd.md) [### GC-MS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-gcms.md) [### LC-MS/MS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/altis-lc-msms-analysis.md) [### Optical microscopy](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-of-analysis-and-observation-by-optical-microscope-mo.md) [### SEM-EDS](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-sem-scanning-electron-microscopy.md)
## The telltale signs of a material drift

  ![indice-viscosite-1](https://filab.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/indice-viscosite-1.png)
Manufacturers regularly contact the laboratory when they observe:

- a change in hardness ([Shore](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/shore-hardness-measurement-in-the-laboratory.md) A or D);
- a loss of flexibility or elasticity;
- embrittlement of the material;
- cracks or crazing;
- premature failure;
- a change in color;
- insufficient mechanical performance;
- a change in density;
- a vulcanization defect;
- poor chemical or thermal resistance;
- non-compliance between two production batches.

These anomalies can be detected during quality control, in production, or after commissioning.

### Why analyse a rubber showing a material drift?

A material drift can appear at different stages in a product's lifecycle:

- change of supplier;
- formulation changes;
- modification of the manufacturing process;
- aging of raw materials;
- accidental contamination;
- variation in curing conditions;
- storage defect.

Analysis makes it possible to determine whether the observed deviations come from the material composition, the processing method or the environment in which it is used.

## Our FAQ

 Why analyse a rubber showing a material drift?
Analysis makes it possible to identify the causes of a variation in properties (hardness, elasticity, strength, color, composition, etc.) so that the appropriate corrective actions can be implemented.

 What types of rubber can be analysed?
The laboratory works on the main industrial elastomers: EPDM, NBR, SBR, NR, CR, FKM, silicone (VMQ), HNBR, IIR, TPU, and other specific formulations.

 How can the source of a material drift be identified?
Experts generally compare a compliant material and a non-compliant material using chemical, thermal, microscopic, and structural analysis in order to highlight differences in composition or behavior.

 Can a formulation change be detected?
Yes. analysis can reveal changes in the polymer, mineral fillers, plasticizers, additives, or the vulcanization system.

 Can contamination be responsible for a material drift?
Yes. Organic, mineral, or particulate contamination can alter the properties of rubber and lead to manufacturing defects or reduced performance.

 Can the Filab laboratory support a failure investigation?
Yes. Experts step in to identify the root cause of a material drift, interpret analytical results, and support manufacturers in their improvement, quality control, or R&D projects.

 How can i get a quote from FILAB laboratory?
To get a quote, you can contact our teams via our contact form, by phone, or by email.
All you need to do is send us your requirements (material type, desired analysis, any applicable standard, urgency, number of samples, etc.). We will then send you a personalized technical and pricing proposal within 24-48 hours.

 What is the typical analysis turnaround time?
Lead times vary depending on the type of analysis and the complexity of the expert assessment project.
FILAB is nevertheless committed to providing fast turnaround times tailored to your constraints and industrial urgencies.