Thermoset Rubber Materials

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)- EPDM offers outstanding weathering, ozone, water, and steam resistance. EPDM also is recommended for most automotive brake fluids, alcohols, ketones, dilute acids and bases, and phosphate ester fluids. Peroxide cured compounds offer outstanding compression set resistance. EPDM is not recommended for use in petroleum oils or other petroleum hydrocarbon products. Service temperature range -65 to +300F. FDA, NSF, and USDA grades available.

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene (BUNA-N or NITRILE) (NBR)- Nitrile is the most commonly used material in the rubber sealing industry today. With outstanding resistance to hydrocarbon fluids, cold water, di-ester lubricants, and ethylene glycol fluids, nitrile sees general service sealing in almost all industry sectors. Nitrile is not recommended for use in halogenated or nitrated hydrocarbon fluids, phosphate esters, ketones, strong acids, automotive brake fluids, or ozone. Standard service temp range -55 to +250 F, but many specialty compounds exist to extend this range. NSF and FDA grades available.

Hydrogenated Acrylonitrile-Butadiene (HNBR)- HNBR is a version of nitrile rubber that has had most, or all, of the double bonds in the polymer chain saturated by the addition of hydrogen. This creates a new material that has greater resistance to heat and chemical attack. HNBR is also the material of choice for resistance to most automotive refrigerant Systems

Carboxylated Acylonitrile-Butadiene (XNBR)- XNBR is a version of nitrile rubber that has been chemically altered to improve its physical strength and toughness. On average, greater tensile strength, modulus, and abrasion resistance is achieved at the cost of a slight reduction in compression set resistance.

Silicone Rubber (SI)- Silicone materials offer the broadest temperature range available in the standard elastomers group with a functional range of -175 F to +500 F dependent on compounding. Physical strengths are low in comparison to carbon based elastomers. Silicones are resistant to high-aniline point oils and chlorinated di-phenyls, but are not recommended for many petrochemical fluids, ketones, or steam.

Fluorosilicone Rubber (FSI)- Fluorosilicones offer the broad temperature range of standard silicones with improved resistance to hydrocarbon oils, fuels and chemicals, along with improved resistance to compression set.

Polyurethane Rubber (AU or EU)- Polyurethane offers the best physical strength and toughness of any elastomeric material. Dependent on compound type, temperature ranges of -65F to +300 F can be seen. Polyurethane resists petroleum oils, fuels, oxygen, and ozone. Polyurethane is not recommended for use in acids, ketones, or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Ester based materials are also sensitive to attack by water vapor.

Fluorocarbon Rubber (FKM)- Fluorocarbon materials have the best combination of chemical and heat resistance available. Dependent upon compounding, FKM materials will see service in temperature ranges of -15 F to +400 F. Standard FKM materials have outstanding resistance to petroleum oils, di-ester lubricants, silicate ester lubricants, silicone fluids, halogenated hydrocarbon fluids, most phosphate esters, acids and bases. Standard FKM materials are not recommended for use in ketones, phosphate esters, amines, low molecular weight esters and high temperature halogenated acids. FDA and NSF grades are available.

Specialty Fluorocarbons (FKM)- Real Seal offers a number of specialty fluorocarbon materials that offer even greater resistance to chemical and heat attack than standard FKM materials. Low temperature grades, high-density grades, and lubricated grades are also available.

Perfluorocarbon Rubber (FFKM)- The current state of the art in terms of chemical and heat resistance, perfluorocarbons offer almost total immunity to chemical attack, similar to PTFE solids, while maintaining the benefit of true elastomer sealing.

Chloroprene (CR)- Chloroprene is one of the oldest sealing materials still in common use. With a temperature range of -65 to +300 F, and good resistance to hydrocarbons, weathering and water, Chloroprene sees much use as a general sealing material. Chloroprene is resistant to refrigerants, many acids, silicate esters, and high aniline point oils. Chloroprene is not recommended for use in phosphate esters or ketones.

Butyl Rubber (IIR)- Butyl rubber has the best gas permeation resistance of all standard elastomers, and offers excellent mechanical dampening properties. Butyl has a service temperature range of -65 to +225 F and is resistant to phosphate esters, ketones, and silicone fluids. Butyl is not recommended for use in petroleum oils or di-ester lubricants. Halogenated types of butyl can offer improved chemical resistance at the cost of some lower physical properties.