Material overview

a brief overview

Here is a brief overview of materials
ELASTIC MATERIALS

One of the most important material groups for the majority of seals are elastic materials.

Their rubber-elastic behavior allows them to adapt to shape changes during installation. This ensures that deviations from the exact shape of the surface to be sealed are perfectly accommodated, automatically creating a reliable seal.

Elastic materials include, among others, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastics, and fabric-reinforced materials.

PTFE / POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE

PTFE, better known by the brand name Teflon™, is the most important fluoropolymer. Another widely recognized brand name is Gore-Tex, a membrane that is waterproof, windproof, yet breathable.

The advantages of PTFE as a sealing material include a wide temperature range and excellent thermal stability. It is also chemically inert, providing universal chemical resistance. Additionally, PTFE is highly resistant to weathering, has a high elongation at break, and excellent fatigue resistance.

Thanks to its physiological safety, PTFE is particularly suitable for use in the food industry.

 

ISO Material Properties Temperatur range Applications Trade name
EPDM Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Rubber Medium mechanical properties, not oil-resistant. Excellent resistance to hot water and steam. Resistant to esters, ketones, and glycols. Ozone-resistant. 55–140 °C Versatile industrial applications: automotive and machinery profiles, conveyor belts, hoses for washing machines, water fittings, cable sheaths, roofing and building seals  
FEP Fluoroethylene Propylene Chemically inert, flexible -200 bis + 205 °C Cable insulation, hoses, coatings, lining of containers and valves in the chemical industry, molded parts in the electronics industry, films Ambofluor, Teflon-FEP,  Neoflon (DAIKIN)
FFKM Perfluoroelastomer Most resistant elastomer against aggressive media −20 °C bis +325 °C Used in high-cost, high-performance applications: chemical, oil, power plant, semiconductor, food, and aerospace industries Kalrez®
FVMQ Fluorosilicone Rubber Low mechanical properties but maintained over a wide temperature range. Low electrical conductivity. Moderately oil-resistant. Ozone-resistant. Physiologically safe. -120 bis +250 °C   Silastic®
HNBR Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber High abrasion resistance; resistant to aggressive, additive-containing alkalis, oils, oxidation, ozone, hot water, steam, fuel -45 bis +150 °C   Therban®
NBR Nitrile Butadiene Rubber High resistance to mineral oils, fats, and hydrocarbons -30 bis +120 °C Seals, hoses, gloves, hydraulic and pneumatic O-rings Perbunan®
PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene Excellent chemical resistance; hard, tough, semi-crystalline; no water absorption; excellent sliding and electrical insulation; hydrophobic 90 bis 350 °C Coatings in aggressive chemical environments; O-rings, gland seals, bellows, sealing tapes for threaded connections TeflonTM, Gore-Tex®
PTFE/  FEPM Thermoplastic Elastomer (Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene Copolymer) Behaves like classical elastomers at room temperature but shows thermoplastic properties under heat 0 bis +200°C Hot water, steam, acids, alkalis, ammonia, amines, motor and gearbox oils, brake fluids  
TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane Higher mechanical strength than classic elastomers; high abrasion, wear, and extrusion resistance; high compressive and tensile strength -40°C and +100°C Mineral oils and fats, hydraulic oils, HFA/HFB fluids, water up to 50 °C, aliphatic hydrocarbons Desmopan
VMQ Methyl-Vinyl Silicone Rubber High temperature resistance, good electrical insulation, moderately oil-resistant, ozone-resistant, physiologically safe -100 bis +200 °C Seals and components for food, medical, automotive ignition cables, copier rollers Silikon, Elastosil©, Silastic©

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