Viton™ O-Rings

And other Specialty Elastomers for Sealing Liquids and Gases

Viton™ O-Rings

Rubber O-rings are the most common sealing product in the world, and Viton™ is the most common rubber used for critical sealing applications.

An O-ring is a toroidal seal with a circular cross section. Used effectively, an O-ring can seal practically all fluids, both liquid and gas. Some plasmas too!

Viton™ is an organic fluorocarbon elastomer designated FKM by ASTM International. All FKM elastomers are built on a polymer chain of vinylidene C=CH2 with fluorine CF2=CH2.

CF2=CH2

Characteristics of Viton™

Advantages:

  1. Typical service temperature range is -4°F to +400°F (-20°C to +200°C), with special formulations ranging from -40°F to 500°F (-40°C to +260°C).
  2. Excellent resistance to oil, gasoline, hydraulic fluids, and hydrocarbon solvents (benzene, kerosene, toluene, xylene, etc.).
  3. Very good impermeability to gases and vapor.
  4. Very good resistance to weather, oxygen, ozone, and sunlight.
  5. Good flame retardance.

Limitations:

  1. Intermediate resistance to tear and cut growth.
  2. Very little resistance to oxygenated solvents (alcohols, ethers, esters, and ketones).

Examples of FKM elastomers:

Viton A-401C – general purpose bisphenol-cured FKM elastomer.

Viton B-600 – higher fluorine content that Viton A-401C.

Viton GF-600S – peroxide-cured FKM elastomer with higher fluorine content that Viton B-600.

Viton FGLT-600S – peroxide-cured FKM elastomer with low temperature sealing capability.

Viton Extreme ETP-600S – highest content of fluorine.