FKM (Viton) Rubber
What is Viton® Rubber?
Viton® rubber is a high-performance fluoroelastomer polymer (FKM) that was originally introduced to the aerospace industry in 1957. Utilization of Viton® quickly eventually spread to other industries including automotive, chemical, fluid power and appliance.
Viton® is a highly fluorinated polymer, so it offers exceptional performance in extremely hot and corrosive environments. It also offers superior resistance to aging, oxidizers, ozone, oils and various chemicals. However, Viton® has limited use in low temperature environments.
There are also multiple grades available for Viton® rubber, including copolymers and terpolymers. Common grades of Viton® include hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride. Additonally, Viton® was also the first elastomer of its kind to earn ISO 9000 registration worldwide.
Viton® is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers.
Read below for advantages and properties of Viton® rubber:
Advantages of Viton Rubber
- FDA Compliant
- Compliant with Strict Environmental Regulations
- Wide Temperature Range
- Exceptional Temperature Stability at Extreme Highs
- Chemical Compability: Fuel oils, hydraulic oil, vegetable oils, high octane gasoline, alcohols, diluted acids and more
Properties of Viton Rubber
- ASTM D-2000 Classification HK (Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications)
- Chemical Definition: Vinylidienefluoridehexafluropropylene
- Abbreviations: FKM
Processing
- Transfer Molding
- Injection Molding
- Compression Molding
Physical & Mechanical Properties
- Durometer: 50 – 95 Shore A
- Tensile Strength: 500 – 2,000 PSI
- Elongation (Range %): 400% – 500%
- Abrasion Resistance: Fair – Good
- Adhesion to Metal: Good – Excellent
- Adhesion to Rigid Materials: Fair – Good
- Compression Set: Good – Excellent
- Flex Cracking Resistance: Fair – Good
- Impact Resistance: Good
- Resilience & Rebound: Poor – Fair
- Tear Resistance: Fair – Good
- Vibration Dampening: Fair – Good
Chemical Resistance
- Dilute Acids: Good – Excellent
- Concentrated Acids: Good – Excellent
- Organic Acids (Dilute): Fair – Good
- Organic Acids (Concentrated): Poor – Good
- Inorganic Acids: Good – Excellent
- Alcohols: Fair – Excellent
- Aldehydes: Poor
- Dilute Alkalies: Fair – Good
- Concentrated Alkalies: Poor
- Amines: Poor
- Animal & Vegetable Oils: Excellent
- Non-Petroleum Brake Fluids: Poor – Fair
- Diester Oils: Good – Excellent
- Alkyl Phosphate Esters: Poor
- Aryl Phosphate Esters: Excellent
- Ethers: Poor
- Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Fuels: Excellent
- Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fuels: Excellent
- Extended Fuels (Oxygenated): Excellent
- Halogenated Solvents: Good – Excellent
- Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Good – Excellent
- Ketones: Poor
- Lacquer Solvents: Poor
- LP Gases & Fuel Oils: Excellent
- Mineral Oils: Excellent
- Oil Resistance: Excellent
- Aromatic Petroleum: Excellent
- Non-Aromatic Petroleum: Excellent
- Ammonia Refrigerant: Poor
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons: R-11, R-12, R-13
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons with Oil: R-11, R-12
- Silicone Oil: Excellent
- Solvent Resistance: Excellent
Thermal Properties
- Low Temperature Range: -30º F – 0º F
- Minimum for Continuous Use (Static): +10º F – -30ºF
- Brittle Point: 0º F – -40ºF
- High Temperature Range: +450º F – +500ºF
- Maximum for Continuous Use (Static): +500ºF
Environmental Performance
- Colorability: Good – Excellent
- Flame Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Gas Permeability: Good – Excellent
- Odor: Good
- Ozone Resistance: Excellent
- Oxidation Resistance: Excellent
- Radiation Resistance: Fair – Good
- Steam Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Sunlight Resistance Good – Excellent
- Taste Retention: Fair – Good
- Weather Resistance: Excellent
- Water Resistance: Excellent
Applications of Viton Rubber
- Hoses
- Diaphragms
- Accumulator bladders
- Fuel seals
- Gaskets
- Fuel injection seals
- Fuel hose components
- Gaskets
- O-rings
Aircraft Components
- T-Seals
- O-rings
- Siphon hoses
- Radial lip seals
- Manifold gaskets
- Cap-seals
Automotive Components
- Gaskets
- Seals
- O-rings