Information des matériaux de caoutchouc et composés d’élastomère
Elastomers are long-chain polymers which are capable of cross-linking which is referred to as vulcanization. The vulcanization process cross-links the polymer chains via chemical bonds creating the elastic or “rubbery or memory properties”.
Elastomers are typically described by type or family based on the base polymer used in the formulation. These classifications are summarized per the ASTM D 1418 standard below and more detail is available for each of the families.
Elastomer Classes & Rubber Compounds Class and Type Details:Due to the number of interacting forces, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR ELASTOMER SELECTION BE RIGOROUSLY TESTED IN THE ACTUAL APPLICATION, performance assumptions must be checked so that you are certain that all variables have been carefully considered. Specific properties of the compound will vary with the formulation or ingredient used to make the compound in addition to the base polymer.
General Description |
Chemical Description |
ASTM |
ISO/DIN 1629 |
Other Trade names |
ASTM D2000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nitrile |
Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber |
NBR |
NBR |
Buna-N |
BF, BG, BK, CH |
Hydrogenated Nitrile |
Hydrogenated Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber |
HNBR |
(HNBR) |
HNBR |
DH |
Ethylene-Propylene |
Ethylene propylene diene rubber |
EPDM |
EPDM |
EP, EPT, EPR |
BA, CA, DA |
Fluorocarbon |
Fluorocarbon Rubber |
FKM |
FPM |
Viton ®, Fluorel ® |
HK |
Chloroprene |
Chloroprene rubber |
CR |
CR |
Neoprene |
BC, BE |
Silicone |
Silicone rubber |
VMQ |
VMQ |
PVMQ |
FC, FE, GE |
Fluorosilicone |
Fluorosilicone rubber |
FVMQ |
FVMQ |
FVMQ |
FK |
Polyacrylate |
Polyacrylate rubber |
ACM |
ACM |
ACM |
EH |
Ethylene Acrylic |
Ethylene Acrylic rubber |
AEM |
AEM |
Vamac ® |
EE, EF, EG, EA |
Styrene-butadiene |
Styrene-butadiene rubber |
SBR |
SBR |
SBR |
AA, BA |
Polyurethane |
Polyester urethane / Polyether urethane |
AU / EU |
AU / EU |
AU / EU |
BG |
Natural rubber |
Natural rubber |
NR |
NR |
NR |
AA |
Vamac ® and Viton ® are registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or affiliates.
Fluorel ® is a registered trademark of Dyneon LLC
Very Good = 1 |
Good = 2 |
Average = 3 |
Poor = 4 |
Temperature in °F |
Basic Property |
NBR |
HNBR |
EPDM |
FKM |
CR |
ACM |
AEM |
SBR |
AU/EU |
VMQ |
FVMQ |
NR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Economy of Material |
1 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
Compression Set Resistance |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Resilience (Rebound) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Tear Strength |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Heat Aging Resistance |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Ozone Resistance |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Resistance to Oil & Grease |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
Fuel Resistance |
4 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
Water Swell Resistance |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Gas Impermeability |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
Dynamic Service / Abrasion Res. |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
High Temperature - Standard |
212 |
300 |
300 |
390 |
250 |
300 |
300 |
212 |
175 |
450 |
400 |
220 |
High Temperature - Special |
250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
480 |
- |
- |
Low Temperature - Standard |
-22 |
- 22 |
-60 |
5 |
-40 |
-60 |
-40 |
-50 |
-60 |
-75 |
-75 |
-60 |
Low Temperature - Special |
-60 |
-40 |
- |
-30 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Due to the number of interacting forces, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR ELASTOMER SELECTION BE RIGOROUSLY TESTED IN THE ACTUAL APPLICATION, performance assumptions must be checked so that you are certain that all variables have been carefully considered.
Ethylene-propylene compounds are prepared from ethylene and propylene (EPM) and usually a third monomer (EPDM). These compounds are used frequently to seal in brake systems, and for sealing hot water and steam. Ethylene propylene compounds have good resistance to mild acids, detergents, alkalis, silicone oils and greases, ketones, and alcohols. They are not recommended for applications with petroleum oils, mineral oil, di-ester lubricants, or fuel exposure.
Ethylene Propylene has gained wide seal industry acceptance for its excellent ozone and chemical resistance properties and is compatible with many polar fluids that adversely affect other elastomers.
EPDM compounds are typically developed with a sulfur or peroxide cure system. Peroxide-cured compounds are suitable for higher temperature exposure and typically have improved compression set performance.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 60 °F / - 51 °C |
High: 300 °F / 149 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent weather resistance |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor petroleum oil and solvent resistance |
Modifications |
» sulfur-cured and peroxide-cured compounds |
Specialized Applications |
» glycol-based brake system seals |
Nitrile is the most widely used elastomer in the seal industry. The popularity of nitrile is due to its excellent resistance to petroleum products and its ability to be compounded for service over a temperature range of -22°F to 212°F.
Nitrile is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile. Variation in proportions of these polymers is possible to accommodate specific requirements. An increase in acrylonitrile content increases resistance to heat plus petroleum base oils and fuels but decreases low temperature flexibility. Military AN and MS O ring specifications require nitrile compounds with low acrylonitrile content to insure low temperature performance.
Nitrile provides excellent compression set, tear, and abrasion resistance. The major limiting properties of nitrile are its poor ozone and weather resistance and moderate heat resistance, but in many application these are not limiting factors.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 22 °F / - 30 °C |
High: 212 °F / 100 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent compression set, |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor weather resistance |
Modifications |
» acrylonitrile content (ACN) from 18% to 50% |
Specialized Applications |
» NBR NSF standard 61 for potable water applications |
Neoprene homopolymer of chlorobutadiene and is unusual in that it is moderately resistant to both petroleum oils and weather (ozone, UV, oxygen). This qualifies neoprene uniquely for certain sealing applications where many other materials would not be satisfactory. Neoprene is classified as a general purpose elastomer which has relatively low compression set, good resilience and abrasion, and is flex cracking resistant.
Neoprene has excellent adhesion qualities to metals for rubber to metal bonding applications.
It is used extensively for sealing refrigeration fluids due to its excellence resistance to Freon® and ammonia.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: -40 °F / - 40 °C |
High: 250 °F / 121 °C |
Application Advantages |
» moderate resistance to petroleum oils |
Application Disadvantages |
» moderate water resistance |
Natural rubber is a product coagulated from the latex of the rubber tree, hevea brasiliensis. Natural rubber features low compression set, high tensile strength, resilience, abrasion and tear resistance, good friction characteristics, excellent bonding capabilities to metal substrate, and good vibration dampening characteristics
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 60 °F / - 51 °C |
High: 220 °F / 104 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellence compression set |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor resistance to attack by petroleum oils |
Styrene-Butadiene (SBR) is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene.
SBR compounds have properties similar to those of natural rubber. SBRs primary custom molded application is the use in hydraulic brakes system seals and diaphragms, with the major of the industry usage coming from the Tire Industry.
SBR features excellent resistance to brake fluids, and good water resistance.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 50 °F / - 46 °C |
High: 212 °F / 100 °C |
Application Advantages |
» good resistance to brake fluids |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor weather resistance |
HNBR is created by partially or fully hydrogenating NBR. The hydrogenating process saturates the polymeric chain with accompanying improvements to the ozone, heat and aging resistance of the elastomer and improves overall mechanical properties.
HNBR, like Nitrile, increasing the acrylonitrile content increase resistance to heat and petroleum based oils and fuels, but decreases the low temperature performance.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 22 °F / - 30 °C |
High: 300 °F / 149 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent heat and oil resistance |
Application Disadvantages |
» increased cold flow with hydrogenation |
Modifications |
» acrylonitrile content (ACN) from 18% to 50% |
Fluorocarbon exhibits resistance to a broader range of chemicals combined with very good high temperature properties more so than any of the other elastomers. It is the closest available approach to a universal elastomer for sealing in the use of o-rings and other custom seals over other types of elastomers.
Fluorocarbons are highly resistant to swelling when exposed to gasoline as well as resistant to degradation due to expose to UV light and ozone.
When exposed to low temperatures, fluorocarbon elastomers can become quite hard (-4 °F) but can be serviceable at low temperatures, although FKM compounds are not recommended for applications requiring good low temperature flexibility.
In addition to standard FKM materials, a number of special materials are available with differing monomer compositions and fluorine content (65% to 71%) for improved low temperature, high temperature, or chemical resistance performance.
Fluorocarbons exhibit low gas permeability making them well suited for hard vacuum service and many formulations are self-extinguishing. FKM materials are not generally recommended for exposure to hot water, steam, polar solvents, low molecular weight esters and ethers, glycol based brake fluids, or hot hydrofluoric or chlorosulfonic acids.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: 5 °F / - 15 °C |
High: 390 °F / 199 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent chemical resistance |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor low temperature flexibility |
Modifications |
» differing monomer compositions and fluorine content (65% to 71%) for improved low temperature, high temperature, or chemical resistance performance |
Specialized Applications |
» degree of fluorination (A, B, F, GB, GF, GFLT, GBLT, GLT, ETP) |
Polyacrylates are copolymers of ethyl and acrylates which exhibit excellent resistance to petroleum fuels and oils and can retain their properties when sealing petroleum oils at continuous high temperatures up to 300 °F. These properties make polyacrylates suitable for use in automotive automatic transmissions, steering systems, and other applications where petroleum and high temperature resistance are required.
Polyacrylates also exhibit resistance to cracking when exposed to ozone and sunlight.
Polyacrylates are not recommended for applications where the elastomer will be exposed to brake fluids, chlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohol, or glycols.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 60 °F / - 51 °C |
High: 300 °F / 149 °C |
Application Advantages |
» petroleum fuel and oil resistance |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor compression set performance relative to NBR |
Millable polyurethane exhibits excellent abrasion resistance and tensile strength as compared to other elastomers providing superior performance in hydraulic applications with high pressures, abrasive contamination and shock loads. Fluid compatibility is similar to that of nitrile at temperatures up to approximately 175 °F. At higher temperatures, polyurethane has a tendency to soften and lose both strength and fluid resistance advantages over other elastomers.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 60 °F / - 51 °C |
High: 175 °F / 79 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent strength and abrasion resistance |
Application Disadvantages |
» poor resistance to water |
Ethylene-acrylic (Vamac ®) is a terpolymer of ethylene, methyl acrylate, and an acid-containing monomer as a cure site. It exhibits properties similar to those of Polyacrylate, but with extended low temperature range and with enhanced mechanical properties.
Ethylene-acrylic offers a high degree of oil, ozone, UV and weather resistance.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 40 °F / - 40 °C |
High: 300 °F / 149 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent vibration dampening |
Application Disadvantages |
» not recommended for exposure to fuel, brake fluid, aromatic hydrocarbons or phosphate esters. |
Silicone is a semi-organic elastomer with outstanding resistance to extremes of temperature with corresponding resistance to compression set and retention of flexibility. Silicone elastomers provide excellent resistance to ozone, oxygen, and moisture. Low physical strength and abrasion resistance combined with high friction properties limit silicone to static seal applications. Silicone utilizes a flexible siloxane backbone rather than a carbon backbone like many other elastomers and has very low glass transition temperatures.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 75 °F / - 59 °C |
High: 450 °F / 232 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent extreme temperature properties |
Application Disadvantages |
» typically not good for dynamic seals due to friction properties and poor abrasion resistance |
Fluorosilicones combine most of the attributes of silicone with resistance to petroleum oils and hydrocarbon fuels.
Low physical strength and abrasion resistance combined with high friction limit fluorosilicone to static seals.
Fluorosilicones are used primarily in aircraft fuel systems.
Primary Uses |
O-rings, rubber seals and custom molded rubber components for: |
Temperature Range (dry heat) |
Low: - 75 °F / - 59 °C |
High: 450 °F / 232 °C |
Application Advantages |
» excellent extreme temperature properties |
Application Disadvantages |
» typically not good for dynamic seals due to friction properties and poor abrasion resistance |
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