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Updated: November
FKM (Viton&#;) and Nitrile (NBR) are two of the most used elastomers for sealing applications. These materials are suited for all-purpose general use applications. They both offer key properties that allow for great flexibility for different tasks throughout the industry. They both offer excellent compression set resistance, great oil and petroleum resistance, and both can work in temperatures between 0-230ºF, which makes both excellent choices for general industrial use.
Because of the wide range of other materials available, selecting the best O-ring for your application can be a daunting task. It is important to understand the key differences hidden behind the similarities of these materials to avoid premature breaking.
Fluoroelastomer / Fluorocarbon (FMK / Viton&#;)
Fluoroelastomer rubber (Viton) performs well in many different environments such as a variety of oil and petroleum products, high vacuum situations, ozone, weather, high temperatures, and strong acids. This material is commonly used to seal leaks, valves, or pumps within the aircraft or automotive industries but can extend well beyond that.
FKM has an outstanding resistance to heat, reaching sustained temperatures of 400ºF or even higher for shorter periods of time. Since most compounds can fail in extreme high temperature environments, FKM is an excellent choice.
Temperature Range: -15ºF up to 400ºF
Fluoroelastomer is known to have excellent chemical resistance, making it the standard for o-ring materials. Typically, when rubber is introduced to harsh chemicals it can deform and swell up causing damage to the seal and potentially the machine or equipment. FKM offers superior chemical and swell resistance within high octane and oxygenated fuel blends.
Fluoroelastomer (FKM / Viton&#;) Pros
Fluoroelastomer (FKM / Viton&#;) Cons
Nitrile (NBR / Buna-N)
Nitrile (Buna / NBR) is a synthetic rubber, composed of acrylonitrile (ANC) and butadiene. Depending on the ratio of ANC and butadiene, the working properties may vary. A lower ANC would be able to withstand a colder temperature before transitioning into a brittle state. This rubber elastomer is used in a variety of industries such as automotive, oil and gas, military, and more.
Buna-N O-rings, gaskets, and other sealing devices offer a large number of beneficial properties such as oil and gas products, superior compression set (ability to be squeezed and maintain its shape and sealing ability), and abrasion resistance (ability to withstand wear and tear of friction caused by moving parts).
Temperature Range: -40ºF up to 250ºF
Nitrile (NBR / Buna-N) Pros:
Nitrile (NBR / Buna-N) Cons:
Comparing Nitrile and Viton&#;
Nitrile and FKM have many similarities which allow them to be suited for an extensive list of general use applications and serve as excellent seals in many industries. Both have great resistance to certain chemicals, oils, and petroleum.
FKM / Viton® offers excellent resistance to ozone, oxidation, and UV light while Nitrile performs poorly in those environments. Although Nitrile / Buna-N supports many of the same chemical resistances as FKM, it has a much lower list of compatible chemicals.
Nitrile offers better resistance to tearing and abrasion which allows it to be more suited for heavy industrial application with moving mechanical parts. Its lower compression set allows Nitrile to be compressed tighter without losing sealability or breaking.
Nitrile (NBR / Buna-N)Fluoroelastomer (FKM / Viton®)Temperature Range-40ºF up to 250ºF-15ºF up to 400ºFProsGreat for sealing petroleum oils, water, and hydraulic fluids. Great tear and abrasion resistance.Diverse sealing applications. Great for sealing petroleum, silicone-based fluid and gases, acids, halogenated hydrocarbons, and more.ConsCan be used in hydraulic systems, oil and gas industries, water systems, automotive, military, and general use applications.Can be used in chemical processing, automotive, aerospace, oil, and gas industries.APG Wants to be Your O-Ring Provider
Are you looking for an ISO certified manufacturer of O-rings? Since APG has been providing the highest quality o-rings to an ever-growing number of clients. We are proud to be a company that is globally recognized for providing high-quality fluid sealing and conveyance products. Our goal is to provide the highest quality products, getting them to our clientele as quickly as possible. We are confident you will find what you are looking for on our website, but if you need help, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to exceeding your expectations.
APG Item Number: H
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If you are looking for more details, kindly visit FKM Oil Seal.
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APG Item Number: V
How To Install An O-Ring
Once you have confirmed that your lubricant is safe for use with both your O-Ring and your application, it is a good practice to double-check the o-ring size. The wrong size can lead to a damaged seal, poor performance, or a damaged system...
Common Causes Of O-Ring Failure
If you recently replaced an o-ring that you think should have had plenty of life left, you are not alone. There are many reasons that o-rings fail before their typical life span. Knowing these common causes of failure can help you avoid pitfalls so your o-rings perform as expected...
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Viton® was introduced in and ever since, scientists and engineers have relied on Chemours Viton® for its superior performance and unique properties. However, Chemours is not the only company that manufactures FKM products. Many people in the industry incorrectly refer to any and all FKM elastomers as Viton®. Products that are not made from 100% virgin Chemours Viton® may fall short of the expected performance levels afforded by the stringent quality standards Chemours has set for Viton®, which is manufactured at ISO registered facilities worldwide.
Visit the Chemours page for more technical information.
Shop For Viton O-Rings
These characteristics make Viton® fluoroelastomer o-rings the perfect choice for demanding sealing applications. Unfortunately, there are several low-cost &#;fluoroelastomer imposters&#; on the market that may put your operations at risk of seal failure. A number of manufacturers of finished goods offer products which are being described as &#;commercial&#; or &#;industrial grades&#; of fluoroelastomer at reduced prices. These so-called &#;fluoroelastomers&#; can be offered at lower cost simply because they are not 100% virgin fluoroelastomer. Instead, some of these products are blends of FKM with hydrocarbon elastomers, such as ethylene-propylene, chloroprene or acrylic rubbers.
Many hydrocarbon rubbers can be blended to take advantage of specific features inherent in the individual rubbers. Fluoroelastomers in general can&#;t be blended with hydrocarbon rubber without significantly degrading the resistance of the resulting vulcanizes to heat, fluids and compression set.
Since Viton® performs better than hydrocarbon rubbers in fluid resistance, blends of other rubbers with Viton® typically perform significantly poorer than 100% FKM. Blends of Viton® with hydrocarbon rubbers do not perform &#;almost like FKM&#; or anything close to it. Beware of the &#;good deal.&#; Rather than being a &#;low-cost fluoroelastomer&#; the blend instead performs like an over-priced hydrocarbon rubber. If your sealing application is one that is best handled by a fluoroelastomer, make sure you are getting 100% Viton® FKM, and not a &#;low cost&#; blend of FKM and hydrocarbon rubber. Insist on parts made with Genuine Viton®. Our Genuine Viton® License Program guarantees the end-user that the elastomer portion of finished goods which bear the Genuine Viton® Label consist only of 100% virgin Viton® fluoroelastomer.
Specifications that are insufficient, inaccurate or that allow substitutions may lead to quality and performance problems. However, a well-written specification that identifies the type of material and quantifies the critical performance parameters of the desired seal will communicate to your supplier the most cost-effective FKM for your application. When Chemours Viton® is specified, product performance may be enhanced since the correct type of Viton® has been tailored for your application needs.
These types or &#;families&#; of Chemours Viton® enable selection of the most cost-effective elastomer. Each family affords a tailored balance of mechanical properties, as well as specific resistance to various types of process fluids.
Q. Are all fluoroelastomers &#;Viton®&#; fluoroelastomers?
A. No, only Chemours manufactures Viton® fluoroelastomer. Because Viton® is an established industry standard, many people incorrectly refer to any and all fluoroelastomers as Viton®. To ensure the highest quality fluoroelastomer available, insist on products made only with Chemours Viton®.
Q. What is FKM?
A. FKM is the ASTM designation for the fluoroelastomer category. It is not a mark of quality. Not all FKM o-rings are equivalent, and some may fall short on desired performance.
Q. What does the &#;Made With Genuine Viton®&#; seal mean?
A. The seal means the part has been manufactured and distributed in accordance with Chemours guidelines. Only parts made with 100% virgin Viton® as the sole elastomeric component are labeled with this seal.
Q. Why does the seal matter?
A. It is the guarantee of product integrity. When products carry this emblem, compliance to OSHA Mechanical Integrity Section .119 is assured. The seal means that the parts offer the superior performance that only Chemours Viton® fluoroelastomer provides. Other fluoroelastomer parts may include blends and other rubbers that deliver inferior heat and fluid resistance performance.
Q. How can I be sure I&#;m getting parts made with genuine Viton®?
A. Look and ask! Be sure to make Viton® an element of your part specification. When parts are shipped, look for the Genuine Viton® seal. If the seal is missing, ask for a Certificate of Authenticity or Conformance.
Q. Who can use the label &#;Made With Genuine Viton®?&#;
A. Only manufacturers who have signed a formal agreement with Chemours can use this seal on their products. The manufacturers are selected carefully for their knowledge, their quality standards and for their ability to help you select the correct type of Viton® for your application. A well-written specification will communicate your needs to your supplier, who has up-to-date information about the variety of Viton® performance types and who can suggest the most cost-effective recommendation.
To ensure that you always receive the highest quality FKM products available, insist on 100% virgin Viton® and look for the &#;Made With Genuine Viton®&#; seal.
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