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Carboxylated Nitrile CBX, XNBR |
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Trade names: | ||
Temp. Range: | -20 ºC to +135 ºC | |
| -4 ºF to +275 ºF | ||
Description: | The addition of carboxylic acid groups to the NBR polymer backbone produces a polymer with increased strength, which provides a material with improved tensile and wear properties plus good abrasion resistance. The negative effects include reduction in compression set and water resistance, resilience and some low temperature properties. It is commonly used in dynamic applications and widely used for high pressure reciprocating seals, rod seals and rod wipers. | |
Suitable with: | Aliphatic hydrocarbons (propane, butane, petroleum oil,mineral oils and grease, diesel fuels, fuel oils), LPG, water and glycol-based and (HFA, HFB and HFC) hydraulic fluids, vegetable oils | |
Not suitable with: | Aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, high octane gasoline, etc.), chlorinated hydrocarbons, polar solvents, glycol-based brake fluids, ozone and weather aging, strong acids, hot water, ozone, water, atmospheric aging | |
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Chloroprene CR |
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Trade names: | DuPont - Neoprene | |
Temp. Range: | -40 ºC to +121 ºC | |
| -40 ºF to +250 ºF | ||
Description: | Chloroprene (from DuPont) was the first synthetic elastomer material developed commercially. It exhibits generally good ozone, aging and chemical resistance. It also has good mechanical properties which it retains reasonably over a wide temperature range. It is commonly found as a seal material in compressed air systems and is one of the few elastomers with good resistance to R12. | |
Suitable with: | Paraffinic mineral oils, silicone oils, water, refrigerants, ammonia, weather, ozone | |
Not suitable with: | Aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, polar solvents, toluene | |
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Ethylene Propylene EPM, EPDM |
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Trade names: | Dow - Nordel™, ExxonMobil - Vistalon™, Lion Elastomers - Royalene® | |
Temp. Range: | -54 ºC to +150 ºC | |
| -65 ºF to +302 ºF | ||
Description: | There are two different types of EP rubber, EPM and EPDM. Ethylene propylene based materials are resistant to some fluids that cause problems with most other elastomers. The major limitation is the complete lack of resistance to hydrocarbon liquids. Therefore, they should be handled with some care in a work shop environment. Useful when sealing phosphate-ester hydraulic fluids and glycol based brake fluids. The major limitation to performance in high temperature applications is the air aging resistance. | |
Suitable with: | Water, steam, phosphate ester (HFD-R and Skydrol), silicone oil and grease, polar solvents, glycol-based brake fluids, some acids and alkalis, ozone, air ageing | |
Not suitable with: | Mineral oil products (oils, greases and fuels), air ageing and ozone at high temperatures | |
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Fluorocarbon FKM |
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Trade names: | Chemours - Viton™ , Dyneon - Dyneon Fluoroelastomer | |
Temp. Range: | -26 ºC to +204 ºC | |
| -15 ºF to +400 ºF | ||
Description: | Fluorocarbon is a high temperature oil resistant elastomer capable of providing a very wide chemical compatibility range. There are several different fluorocarbon compounds available. The basis of the different compounds is the incorporation of fluorine into the polymer chain. As you increase the fluorine concentration within the polymer, the greater the chemical resistance of the compound. Fluorocarbons were originally developed as a dipolymer of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and vinylidene fluoride (VDF). Fluorocarbons comprise the Viton™ A, B, F and specialty families from Chemours. | |
Suitable with: | Mineral oils and greases, HFD, silicone oils and greases, vegetable oil and grease, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, gasoline, ozone, weather, ageing | |
Not suitable with: | Glycol-based brake fluids, steam and hot water above 100 ºC, Skydrol, polar solvents, ammonia, methanol, amines, alkalis, organic acids | |
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Fluorosilicone FVMQ, FMQ |
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Trade names: | Dow Corning - Silastic LS/FSR, GE Silicones - Silplus | |
Temp. Range: | -56 ºC to +204 ºC | |
| -69 ºF to +400 ºF | ||
Description: | Fluorosilicone has fluorine added into the polymer chain in order to provide improved chemical resistance over silicone. Fluorosilicone also has similar mechanical properties to silicone. It has generally low tear strength, abrasion resistance, tensile strength and dynamic applications. | |
Suitable with: | Mineral oils and greases, silicone oils, synthetic lubricants, ATF, brake fluids, water, alcohol | |
Not suitable with: | Aromatic solvents, amines, phosphate esters (Skydrol), concentrated acids | |
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Hydrogenated Nitrile HNBR |
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Trade names: | Zeon - Zetpol®, ARLANXEO - Therban® | |
Temp. Range: | -40 ºC to +160 ºC | |
| -40 ºF to +320 ºF | ||
Description: | Hydrogenated nitrile is the result of a nitrile polymer being subjected to the hydrogenation process which has the effect of improving the resistance of the polymer chain to chemical attack. HNBR has a wider temperature range than standard nitrile and good mechanical properties. However, it will cost more than standard nitrile. HNBR is a High strength material that resists extrusion, abrasion and wear. It is popular for seal applications in the oil and gas industry, chemical industry, diesel engines and similar high reliability aggressive environments. It has good ozone resistance which makes it compatible with high temperature, high pressure compressed air systems. Low temperature compounds are available down to -55 °C (-67 °F). | |
Suitable with: | H2S (up to 10%), mineral oils and greases, LPG, fuel oils, water and steam upto 149 ºC, dilute acids, glycol-based hydraulic fluids, vegetable oils, ozone, ageing, weathering | |
Not suitable with: | Glycol-based brake fluids, polar solvents, strong acids | |
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Nitrile NBR |
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Trade names: | Bayer (Canada) - Perbunan®/Krynac®, CK Witco Corp. (Mexico) - Paracril, Zeon Chemicals (U.S.) - Nipol®/Nyson | |
Temp. Range: | -40 ºC to +120 ºC | |
| -40 ºF to +248 ºF | ||
Description: | Also known as acrylonitrile butadiene. The acrylonitrile content of nitrile sealing compounds varies between 18% and 50%. The higher the acrylonitrile content, the better the resistance to oil & fuel. At the same time, elasticity and compression set properties are adversely affected. So a compromise is often made and a medium acrylonitrile content selected. It is presently the most widely used elastomer in the seal industry and provides an exceptional balance of good mechanical properties, wear properties and reasonable resilience. Low Temp NBR available down to -55°C (-67°F). | |
Suitable with: | Aliphatic hydrocarbons (propane, butane, petroleum oil,mineral oils and grease, diesel fuels, fuel oils), vegetable oils, LPG, fire resistant hydraulic fluids, water, dilute acids | |
Not suitable with: | Aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, glycol brake fluids, strong acids (H2S), polar solvents, ketones, phosphate esters, ozone, weather, atmospheric aging | |
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Perfluoroelastomer FFKM |
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Trade names: | DuPont - Kalrez®, PPE- Perlast®, Greene Tweed - Chemraz® | |
Temp. Range: | -32 ºC to +350 ºC | |
| -25 ºF to +662 ºF | ||
Description: | FFKM has the broadest chemical resistance of any elastomeric material. It has high reliability in static and dynamic applications and combines the sealing integrity of elastomers with the chemical resistance approaching that of PTFE. FFKM is used in highly aggressive chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor, aerospace, and oil and gas industries. It contains a higher amount of fluorine than the standard FKM and features a high temperature rating. | |
Suitable with: | Most Media | |
Not suitable with: | Liquid sodium and potassium, fluorinated solvents and refrigerants, some chlorine compounds, steam over 150 ºC depending on grade | |
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Polyamide PA |
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Trade names: | DuPont - Nylon | |
Temp. Range: | -30 ºC to +93 ºC | |
| -22 Fº to +200 ºF | ||
Description: | Nylon, from Dupont, was the first synthetic material to be developed (1938). Polyamide is a tough and abrasion resistant material which makes it useful for wear resistance in dry applications. It may be reinforced by fillers such as glass to provide higher strength or could be filled with MoS2 to provide improved lubrication. A major limitation of polyamide is its high water absorption which leads to swelling of the material. Some major applications are wear rings, bushings and anti-extrusion rings. | |
Suitable with: | Air, mineral oils and greases | |
Not suitable with: | Water or high relative humidity, solvents, acids | |
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Polyetheretherketone PEEK |
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Trade names: | KasPex™ PEEK – Hi-Tech Seals | |
Temp. Range: | -70°C to +260°C | |
| -94°F to +500°F | ||
Description: | PEEK compounds have a temperature range similar to that of PTFE but they have a much higher strength and also retain their mechanical properties to high temperatures. PEEK has good hydrolysis resistance, and its chemical resistance is close to that of PTFE. PEEK is extensively used as a backup ring material for high pressure, high temperature applications due to its hardness. KasPex™ PEEK is Hi-Tech Seals’ family of high-performance thermoplastic PEEK and is composed of various compounds including our MP39 virgin PEEK, MP38 glass reinforced PEEK, and MP37 carbon reinforced PEEK. | |
Suitable with: | Most Media | |
Not suitable with: | Some acids including hydrochloric, nitric and sulphuric, some phenols and sulphur compounds | |
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Polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE |
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Trade names: | Fluon® - AGC Chemicals, Polyflon™ - Daikin | |
Temp. Range: | -260 ºC to +260 ºC | |
| -436 ºF to +500 ºF | ||
Description: | PTFE and its derivatives (ETFE, FEP, PFA) are perhaps the most widely used plastics in sealing technology. In unfilled (virgin) form it is relatively soft and will conform to the surface texture to provide a low leakage seal. PTFE has virtually universal chemical resistance and a very low coefficient of friction with excellent dry running properties. It is found in both dynamic and static seals. The different types of PTFE available are Virgin, Bronze, Glass, Moly-Glass and Carbon Graphite filled --these fillers are added to alter PTFE's sealing properties. NOTE: With filled PTFE the fluid resistance will be dictated by the filler material | |
Suitable with: | Most Media | |
Not suitable with: | Molten alkali metals, fluorine and other halogens, strong oxidizing agents | |
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RyFlor™ |
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Trade names: | RyFlor™ | |
Temp. Range: | -268°C to +316°C | |
| -450°F to +600°F | ||
Description: | RyFlor™ RF40 is a tightly tested gasket material that is capable of withstanding numerous challenges in the field. It will not degrade or deteriorate, making it an excellent choice for handling ultra-pure fluids for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. RyFlor™ has the ability to seal imperfect surfaces without experiencing deformation. It is FDA compliant, UV and Ozone resistant, and substantially increases the service life of gaskets. RyFlor™ can withstand loads over 40,000 psi. | |
Suitable with: | ||
Not suitable with: | ||
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Silicone VMQ |
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Trade names: | Dow Corning - Silastic®, Momentive Performance Materials - Silopren and Silplus, Wacker - Elastosil® | |
Temp. Range: | -65 ºC to +232 ºC | |
| -85 ºF to +450 ºF | ||
Description: | Silicone elastomers possess a wide temperature range. Their major problem is the relatively poor tensile strength and tear resistance which in turn makes them susceptible to wear and also more prone to damage on assembly. They have excellent resistance to oxidation and ozone degradation. They are most commonly used in static applications and are popular for food and medical applications. | |
Suitable with: | Mineral oils, vegetable oils, brake fluids, water, ozone, ageing, weather | |
Not suitable with: | Aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents, water and steam (>120ºC), acids, alkalis | |
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Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene Copolymer FEPM, TFE/P |
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Trade names: | TM Asahi Glass Co. - Aflas® FEPM, Greene Tweed - Fluoraz® | |
Temp. Range: | -9 ºC to +232 ºC | |
| 16 ºF to +450 ºF | ||
Description: | Traditionally known as Aflas®, and now referred to as Aflas® FEPM. This elastomer is a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and propylene. The fluorine contributes to the good fluid resistance and temperature capability, but the ethylene base causes higher swell in hydrocarbon liquids than experienced with fluorocarbons. FEPM is found in numerous applications in the oilfield industry. FEPM has poor low temperature performance and low resilience. | |
Suitable with: | Water, steam, methanol, amines, phosphate esters, brake fluids, ethylene glycol, acids (H2S up to 10%), mineral-based lubricating and hydraulic oils, some synthetic lubricants, air, ozone | |
Not suitable with: | Lighter aromatic hydrocarbon liquids (gasolines), solvents such as benzene, ethers and ketones, chlorinated solvents and hydrocarbons, refrigerants, kerosene | |
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Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer TPE |
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Trade names: | DuPont - Hytrel® | |
Temp. Range: | -54 ºC to +149 ºC | |
| -65 ºF to +300 ºF | ||
Description: | Hytrel (TPE) is a thermoplastic elastomer material which has excellent strength and toughness properties. TPE can be made as a very flexible or relatively hard material depending on the grade. TPE is similar to urethane. It demonstrates high resilience and flexibility which permits easier installation than PTFE materials. | |
Suitable with: | Mineral oils and greases, hydrocarbon fuels, water-based hydraulic fluids HFA and HFB, environmentally acceptable hydraulic fluids, glycol, dilute acids and bases | |
Not suitable with: | Water and phosphate fluids above 80 ºC | |
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Urethane AU, EU |
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Trade names: | BoKure™ Urethane - Hi-Tech Seals | |
Temp. Range: | -54 ºC to +105 ºC | |
| -65 ºF to + 221 ºF | ||
Description: | Urethane is a thermoplastic elastomer. Hi-Tech Seals’ BoKure™ urethane family has a tensile strength and wear resistance that is typically 2-3 times higher than comparable elastomers such as nitrile and has good resilience. It will maintain effective dynamic sealing at high pressures for extended periods. It is widely used for both hydraulic and pneumatic reciprocating seals. The potential for plastic flow at high temperatures means polyurethane is not suitable for use as a typical rotary seal as the high underlip temperature will cause plastic flow. As urethane is a thermoplastic material it will only have elastomeric properties within a limited temperature range. At low temperatures it will have limited flexibility while at high temperatures it will be subject to plastic flow. Urethane suffers from hydrolysis in hot water and this can limit potential applications. | |
Suitable with: | Most petroleum based fluids, water up to 65 ºC (149 ºF) | |
Not suitable with: | Phosphate ester hydraulic fluids, solvents, alcohol, brake fluids, hot water, steam, alkalis, acids | |
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