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Elastomer Selection

What is an elastomer

Though "elastomer" is synonymous with "rubber", it is more formally a polymer that can be modified to a state exhibiting little plastic flow and quick or nearly complete recovery from an extending force, and upon immediate release of the stress, will return to approximately its own shape. According to the definition of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for the term "elastomer" it is essential that: *An elastomer part must not break when stretched approximately 100%. *After being stretched 100%, held for 5 minutes and then released, it must retract to within 10% of its original length within 5 minutes after release.

Resistance to the media

As used throughout this manual, the term "media" denotes the substance retained by the o-ring. It may be a liquid, a gas, or a mixture of both. It can even include powders or solids as well. The chemical effect of the media on the O-ring is of prime importance. It must not alter the operational characteristics or reduce the life expectancy of the O-ring. Excessive deterioration of the O-ring must be avoided. It is easy, however, to be misled on this point. A significant amount of volume shrinkage usually results in premature leakage of any O-ring seal, whether static or dynamic. On the other hand, a compound that swells excessively, or develops a large increase or decrease in hardness, tensile strength, or elongation, will often continue to serve well for a long time as a static seal, in spite of undesirable test results on elastomer compounds. The first step in selecting the correct material is to select an elastomer that is compatible with the chemical environment.

Compound

A compound is a mixture of base polymer(s) and other chemicals which form a finished rubber material. More precisely, the term 'compound' refers to a specific blend of ingredients tailored for particular characteristics required to optimize performance in some specific service. The basis of compound design is selection of the polymer type. To the elastomer, the compounder may add reinforcing agents, such as carbon black, colored pigments, curing or vulcanizing agents, activators, plasticizers, accelerators, anti-oxidants or antiradiation addiditives. There may be hundreds of such combinations.

The physics of Rubber

Rubber is composed of long chains of randomly oriented molecules. These long chains are subject to entanglement and cross-linking. The entanglement has a significant impact on the viscoelastic properties such as stress relaxation. When a rubber is exposed to stress or strain energy, internal rearrangements such as rotation and extension of the polymer chains occur. These changes occur as a function of the energy applied, the duration and rate of application, as well as the temperature at which the energy is applied. ISO 1629 identifies approximately 25 elastomeric types.

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Elastomer ASTMNBR NitrileEPM EPRCR NeopreneVMQ SiliconeFVMQ Fluoro siliconeEU UrethaneFKM Fluoro carbonFFKM Perfluoro carbonFEP encapsulated
GENERAL         
Hardness (Shore "A") 120/ 9030/9015/9520/9035/8060/9550/9565/90-
Temp. range °F/°C max. 1230/110266/130248/120446/230446/230176/80410/210620/326400/205
Temp. range °F/°C min 1-30/-35-67/-55-49/-45-67/-55-76/-60-22/-30-40/-40-4/-20-76/-60
Compression Set 2BCCABECBE
Wear Resistance 2CCCEEACCE
Gas Permeability 2CCCEEBCCE
AirEBCABCBA+
AlcoholBABBBUEA+
AldehydesUBUCUUUBfi+
Aliphatic HydrocarbonsCUEEACAA+
AlkalisBACBBBCA+
AminesB1B1B1E1B1UUBfi+
Animal FatsBUCCACBA+
Aromatic HydrocarbonsDUDUBDAA+
Esters, Alkyl Phosphate (Skydrol)UBUCUUUA+
Esters, Aryl PhosphateUAUCBUAA+
Esters, SilicateCUEUBUAA+
EthersUEUUEEUA+
Halogenated hydrocarbonsUUUUBEAA+
Inorganic AcidsECBBBUAA+
KetonesUAACAUUB+
Mineral Oil, high analine fatsBUCCBAAA+
Mineral Oil, low analine fatsBUUEBBAA+
Organic AcidsCCCBBUCA+
Silicone OilsAA2AEEAAA+
Vegetable OilsAUCBBEAA+
Water / SteamCAEEEUB.C4+
  1. The temperature range is strongly dependent by the specific compound;
  2. The compression set value for Kalrez® is relative to temperature. In low temperature applications this value is reasonable, in high temperatures this value is good to very good.
AGood 
BSatisfactory
CFair
DDoubtful
EPoor
UUnsuitable
1See the list "compound selection for chemicals and fluids"
2EPDM/EPR may shrink
3Depending on FKM type
4Depending on compound
5Depending on elastomer core
+

in general "A" because the encapsulation is FEP

This information is intended only as a guideline. Chemical compatibility lists should be consulted. ERIKS will provide this on request. Whenever possible the fluid compatibility of the O-ring compound should be rated "A". For a static seal application a rating "B" is usually acceptable, but it should be tested. Where a "B" rated compound must be used, do not expect to re-use it after disassembly. It may have swollen enough that it cannot be reassembled. When a compound rated "C" is to be tried, be sure it is first tested under the full range of operating conditions. It is also particularly important to test seal compounds under service conditions when a strong acid is to be sealed at elevated temperatures because the rate of degradation of rubber at elevated temperatures is many times greater than the rate of degradation at room temperature.
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