OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE OF VITON/FPM/FKM RUBBERS COMPARED TO OTHER ELASTOMERS

In this article, we would like to present and describe in detail one of the most important parameters related to technical seals — temperature resistance. This is the one factor that always comes into play regardless of the type of seal used, and every compound must be able to withstand it.

The most commonly used elastomers in the sealing industry are:

– Viton/FKM/FPM – rubber based on fluorocarbon rubber
– EPDM – rubber based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber
– NBR – rubber based on butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber
– SBR – rubber based on styrene-butadiene rubber

Among the materials listed above, there is one that stands out for its especially wide temperature resistance range — Viton/FKM/FPM — and we will compare the remaining materials to it later in this article.

What is Viton/FPM/FKM?

Viton/FPM/FKM rubber is a specific product created through the copolymerization of fluorocarbon rubber monomers, making it one of the best elastomeric sealing materials available on the market. It is characterized by a wide range of applications thanks to its unique properties. However, the main advantage of Viton/FPM/FKM over other common elastomers like SBR, NBR, or EPDM lies in its excellent resistance to many factors and media — from atmospheric conditions to concentrated acids and petroleum-based substances.

Additionally, fluorine-based rubber compounds like Viton/FPM/FKM offer a broad temperature resistance range. This is a critical parameter in many industrial work environments and is often decisive when choosing the appropriate sealing material. This range spans from -20°C up to +220°C, making Viton/FPM/FKM one of the leading sealing materials with the widest operating temperature range.

Comparison of Viton/FPM/FKM with Other Popular Elastomers in Terms of Operating Temperature Range

To better illustrate and compare the temperature resistance of popular elastomers, see the table below:

As shown in the table above, Viton/FPM/FKM rubber has more than twice the temperature resistance range of EPDM and NBR, and over three times that of SBR rubber.

It is also worth mentioning that the mechanical and chemical stability of Viton/FPM/FKM rubber is maintained throughout the entire temperature range, which is especially important when sealing areas exposed to significant temperature fluctuations.