WhatisaViton®(FKM)Gasket&WhatareitsApplications?
BYHARKESH-RUBBER ONAPRL12,2019 0COMMENTS
Manyofthemostchallengingsealingapplicationsrequireaheavy-dutygasketthatcanperformexceptionallywellinthe harshestofconditionsSuchapplicationsoftencallforgasketsmadefromafamilyoffluoroelastomerscalledFKM.WhileViton® isthegenericnameforFKMitactuallyisabrandnameofDuPontforitssyntheticrubberandfluoropolymerelastomer
WhatExactlyisFKM?
TheFKMfamilyofelastomersconsistsofcopolymersorterpolymersoftetrafluoroethylene(TFE),vinylidenefluoride(VDF)and hexafluoropropylene(HFP),hexafluoropropylene(HFP)andvinylidenefluoride(VDForVF2)andperfluoromethylvinylether (PMVE)SinceDuPontwasthefirstcompanytoreallymarketthismaterialitsbrandnameViton®hasbecomethemost commonlyassociatednamewithFKM.
ThemajorityofsyntheticrubbersarecomposedoflongchainsofcarbonandhydrogenatomsTheserubbersareproneto swellinguponexposuretooilandhavealimitedtemperaturerangeWhatsmoretheybreakdownovertimewithUVexposure (throughsunlight)
Whenfluorineisaddedtosyntheticrubbersitbondstightlytothecarbonatomsandmakesthecompoundmoreresistantto othercompoundswhileprovidingtremendousflexibilityThischangesthepropertiesofthematerialandmakesFKMthehighperformancerubbercompoundthatiscrucialtomanyapplications
FKMisknownforexcellentresistancetoheatchemicalsconcentratedacidsoilsandaggressivefuels
MaterialGradesforViton®Gaskets
OnthebasisofmaterialcompositionandapplicationsFKMcomesinanumberofdifferentmaterialgradesSomeoftheseare:
GeneralUseGrades:
Viton®A
Viton®Adipolymersarepolymerizedfromtwomonomers–vinylidenefluoride(VF2)andhexafluoropropylene(HFP)Itisthe mostwidelyusedViton®gasketmaterialandhasapplicationsasrubbersealsforaerospaceandautomotivelubricantsand fuels
Viton®B
Viton®Bisaterpolymeriepolymerizedfromthreemonomers–vinylidene(VF2)hexafluoropropylene(HFP)and tetrafluoroethylene(TFE)Thismaterialisprimarilyusedinchemicalprocessingpowerindustriesandutilities
Viton®F
Viton®Fisalsoaterpolymerpolymerizedfromthreemonomers–vinylfluoride(VF2)hexafluoropropylene(HFP)and tetrafluoroethylene(TFE)FtypesofferthebestfluidresistanceoutofallotherViton®typesTheyareextremelyusefulin applicationsthatrequireresistancetofuelpermeation
High-performanceGrades:
Viton®GBandGBL
VitonGBandGBLarefluoroelastomerterpolymersthatarepolymerizedfromthreemonomers–vinylfluoride(VF2) hexafluoropropylene(HFP),andtetrafluoroethylene(TFE)Thesefluoroelastomersuseperoxidecurechemistrythatleadsto superiorresistancetoacid,steam,andaggressiveengineoils
Viton®GLT
ThisfluoroelastomerisspeciallydesignedtoretainthehighheatandchemicalresistancepropertiesofgeneraluseViton® gradeswhileimprovingthelow-temperatureflexibilityAlsoViton®GLToffersan8to12°Clowerglasstransitiontemperature whichisindicativeoflow-temperatureperformanceinelastomerapplications
KeyPropertiesofaViton®Gasket
Whenitcomestogasketmaterialsgoodcompressionsetresistanceortheabilitytospringbackaftertheloadistakenoffis neededOtherdesirablepropertiesincludeawidetemperaturerangeandgoodchemicalresistanceFKMoffersexceptional
performanceinalltheseregards
FKMisgradedasHKaspertheASTMD2000standardforclassifyingelastomersHereHindicatesthattheperformanceofan FKMGasketdeterioratesverylittleafterprolongedexposuretotemperaturesof250°C(480°F)FKMalsoworkswellinlowtemperatureconditionsgoingaslowas-40°C(-40°F)
Whereas,theKindicatestheresistancetoswellingSinceKisthelowestpossiblerating,itmeansthatFKMswellslessthan almostallotherelastomericmaterialsFKMisalsohighlyresistanttochemicalsandcanwithstandozone,typicalautomotive fuelsandhydrocarbonlubricatingoilsHoweverFKMdoesn’tgiveasgreatresultsagainststrongacidsalkalisandketones
ApplicationsofViton®forRubberGaskets
Viton®gasketswerefirstusedintheaerospaceindustryowingtotheirfuelresistanceandlowburningcharacteristicsNow, theirapplicationcanbefoundinfluidpowerautomotive,appliance,andchemicalindustriesMoreover,withtheintroductionof FDAgrades,theusesofFKMhavebeenextendedtothefoodprocessingandpharmaceuticalindustriesaswell
Viton®Gasketsarehighlyrecommendedforharshhigh-temperatureenvironmentsTheyareoftenusedwithlubricatingand fueloilsgasolinevegetableoils,alcohols,dilutedacids,hydraulicoilandkerosenebecauseoftheirchemicalresistanceIn addition,Viton®applicationscanalsobefoundinfuelsealscapseals,T-seals,andradiallipsealsinpumpsFKMgasketsalso offersuperiorUVresistancewhichmakesthemagreatchoiceinapplicationswhereprolongedsunlightexposureisexpected
WehopethatyoufoundthisinformationusefulIfyourelookingforFKMorViton®gasketsforyourapplication,HarkeshRubber manufacturestop-of-the-lineproductstofulfillyoursealingneedsInfact,wecanproducelow-temperatureFKMgasketsthat canwithstandupto-50°C!SimplycontactusforyourViton®gasketneeds
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