When buying rubber matting for your farming application, one important product detail to consider is the MPA, or Megapascal of the rubber.
MPA is a unit of measurement that is used to determine the strength of rubber, and it plays a role in determining how durable and long-lasting your rubber matting will be.
To test the MPA of rubber, a tensiometer is used to stretch the material until it snaps. This test measures the amount of force that the rubber can withstand before it breaks, and the result is expressed in terms of Megapascals.
Rubber mats with a high MPA tend to be more durable and long-lasting than those with a low MPA. This is because a higher MPA indicates that the rubber is stronger and can withstand more pressure and wear and tear without tearing or breaking.
On the other hand, mats with a low MPA are more likely to rip or tear when they are under pressure, making them less suitable for high-traffic or high-pressure areas.
A low MPA for rubber mats tends to be around 2-3MPA, whereas a mat with 8 or 10 MPA is considered to be stronger and more durable. Some rubber mats can have even higher MPAs, which means that they are even more resilient and can withstand even more pressure and wear.
At NumatAGRI, our Youngstar mats have an MPA of 12 which is at the very top end of the scale. This high MPA makes the Youngstar mats suitable for use in high-pressure spaces such as races, drafting areas in cattle yards, crushes, and other areas where there is a lot of pressure or traffic.
So how does NumatAGRI achieve such a high MPA rating in our mats?
Two main ways we do that:
1. The unique, full, vulcanisation of the rubber.
This is a heat-treating process where the rubber is heated up and then cooled. By vulcanising the rubber, it increases the durability and the MPA of the rubber.
2. The material of the mats.
At Numat we use pure rubber for our mats. Which is made up of a mix of recycled tyres and virgin rubber. This helps us maintain a high standard of MPA and make sure our mats are durable.
What you’ll find in a low MPA mat is that oftentimes other compounds are added in, like carbon, which reduces the cost of the matting, but in doing so, can sometimes reduce the quality and longevity of the material.
Rubber matting with a higher MPA also maintains a soft surface to stand and walk on, whereas a lower MPA mat can sometimes feel brittle and even hard.
A high MPA not only improves the strength of the matting, but also the comfort for the animals.
Before purchasing any livestock matting, be sure to check the MPA rating and ask your provider about the warranty and durability of their rubber matting.