What is the use of rubber plates made of Viton

Viton rubber sheets, also known as FKM and FPM, are made from fluorocarbon rubber. They offer excellent heat and chemical resistance and are non-flammable. These features make them highly sought after in various industrial sectors. They are also used wherever seals with strictly defined parameters are required. Discover where chemically resistant rubber sheets are applied.

Viton, FKM, or FPM Sheets?

Buyers looking for industrial rubber sheets often face confusion about whether they need Viton, FKM, or FPM sheets. It’s important to understand that all these names refer to the same product — sheets made from a fluorocarbon rubber compound.

The name Viton is a trademark of the DuPont brand but is commonly used as a general term for such products. FKM is the acronym used in the American ASTM standard for fluoroelastomers, while FPM is the equivalent term in the DIN/ISO standards.

So, industrial rubber sheets labeled as Viton, FKM, or FPM all refer to the same material made from fluorocarbon rubber.

Key Properties of Viton Rubber Sheets

Industrial rubber sheets made from this material are characterized primarily by their exceptional resistance to various factors encountered across many industrial fields.

They are resistant to:

– vacuum conditions,

– UV radiation,

– oils and greases, even at high temperatures,

– many acids (including hydrochloric, phosphoric, nitric),

– hydrocarbons,

– oxygen and ozone,

– non-polar solvents,

– a wide range of chemical compounds — aromatic, aliphatic, chlorinated.

Chemically resistant Viton rubber sheets also have minimal gas permeability. Another important advantage is their wide thermal operating range: they retain their properties between -20°C and +205°C.

These characteristics make fluorocarbon elastomer-based rubber sheets a preferred choice across many industries, even the most demanding ones.

Industrial Applications of Viton Rubber Sheets

Chemically resistant rubber sheets are used across many sectors of industry. These products are found in:

– the petrochemical industry,

– crude oil processing and transportation,

– chemical transport systems,

– nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power plants,

– the aerospace industry,

– the space industry,

– flue gas desulfurization systems.

Interestingly, Viton rubber sheets are also used in the food industry. In these cases, white Viton is applied — a version certified for food contact under the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standard.

Chemically resistant rubber sheets are primarily used to produce various types of seals, including custom-cut gaskets, O-rings, and high-temperature oil seals (simmerings).

The high chemical and thermal resistance, along with superior durability, make these industrial rubber sheets highly desirable among professionals in many sectors.