Rubber is one of the world’s most important natural polymers. The polymerisation of monomers creates a diverse range of polymers, including EPM, EPDM, NBR, SBR and CR. There are also 30 categories of basic organic elastomers, with the most common types being HNBR, ACM, AEM, EU, AU, ECO and CSM.
These polymers can be combined to create an infinite number of blends, which are then used for infinite applications with an extensive array of fluids, temperatures and climates. Each blend has its own specific characteristics.
Some examples:
ACM
Name:
Polyacrylic
Temperature:
From -20°C (-35°C for some types) to +160°C (+180°C for some types)
Application:
Mainly used in the automobile industry. Excellent resistance to oils, high temperatures, ozone and atmospheric agents. Poor resistance to low temperatures.
AU
Name:
Polyurethane
Temperature:
From -40°C to +100°C
Application:
Used in situations that require excellent mechanical properties. Excellent resistance to abrasion, heat and oil swelling. High stretching rate and mechanical resistance. Compatible with oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, oxygen, ozone and atmospheric agents. Poor resistance to acids, ketones and chlorinated hydrocarbons
CR
Name:
Polychloroprene
Temperature:
Constant: -40°C / +100°C
Application:
For situations that envisage coolants, ozone, ammonia and diluted hydrocarbons. Resistant to atmospheric agents and to seawater. Poor resistance to mineral oils, but good resistance to extinguishing agents.
Name:
Ethylene Propylene
Temperature:
In air: -40°C / +115°C (with peaks of 120°C); for peroxide vulcanisation: -50°C / +150°C (with peaks of 170°C);
In water: -30°C / +98°C (before reaching boiling point); for peroxide vulcanisation: -40°C / +130°C
Application:
Used in contact with hot and cold water, air, atmospheric agents, ozone, saline solutions, diluted acids, hydraulic- and car-brake fluids, detergents, phosphate esters, acetates, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, glycols and amines. Never to be used with hydrocarbons, mineral oils and greases, halogenated solvents, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, mineral-base fluids and lubricants.
Name:
Fluorocarbon
Temperature:
Constant: -15°C / +250°C
Application:
Resistant to aliphatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, aromatic solvents and ester-base hydraulic fluids, atmospheric agents and ozone, methane and LPG, mineral oils and greases. It has poor resistance to low temperatures, but exceptional resistance to high ones, even when aggressive hydrocarbons are present. It has no resistance to ketones, aldehydes, esters with low molecular weight, nitrogen compounds, strong acids, hot water with vapour, brake fluids and ammonia.
FVMQ
Name:
Temperature:
Constant: -50°C / +220°C
Application:
Normally used in extreme conditions, and in the aerospace and chemical industries. It behaves well at both low and high temperatures, with oils and hydraulic fluids. Low chemical properties.
HNBR
Name:
Hydrogenated Nitrile
Temperature:
Constant. Standard formulations: -20°C / +150°C
Special formulations: -40°C / +150°C
Application:
Normally used in the hydraulics and pneumatics industries. Compatible with mineral oils and coolant gases. Low gas and vapour permeability. Compared with NBR, it resists higher running temperatures and is more resistant to chemicals. Resistant to ozone and diluted acids, but not to ketones, esters, aldehydes, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, amines and strong acids
NBR
Name:
Acrylonitrile Butadiene
Temperature:
Constant. Standard formulations -25°C / +110°C; Special formulations -45°C / + 100°C
Application:
Normally used in the hydraulics, pneumatics and oil-hydraulics industries. Resistant to fluids and mineral oils, petroleum-based hydraulic fluids, mineral, vegetable and animal fats, aliphatic hydrocarbons, combustible oils, diesel, kerosene, gas, methane, butane and propane. Compatible with water glycols and water and oil emulsions. Non-resistant to strong acids, aldehydes, ketones, amines, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, brake fluids, halogenated solvents.
SBR
Name:
Styrene Butadiene
Temperature:
-40°C to +100°C
Application:
Excellent resistance to shock and abrasion. Poor resistance to naked flames. Compatible with water, alcohols, ketones and aldehydes. Low resistance to ozone, sunlight, oils, greases and strong acids.
CSM
Name:
Hypalon from Dupont
Temperature:
-40° to +135°C.
Application:
The chlorine content in the polymer, which varies from 25% to 45%, defines the physical-mechanical characteristics, and the chemical and thermal resistance of this material, which can be used for applications in various industrial sectors, in particular the automotive, electrical and construction industries.
In addition to good mechanical properties and good resistance to oxidising and corrosive substances, CSM is characterised by excellent ozone, weather and flame resistance and low permeability to vapour and moisture.
AEM
Name:
Random thermo-responsive copolymer of ethylene, methyl acrylate and a small proportion of carboxyl monomers.
Temperature:
Standard -30/150°C. special: -40/175°C.
Application:
Compound with good mechanical and chemical properties typically used in the automotive market.
VMQ
Name:
Temperature:
Application:
FFKM LAVELAST® Polymers
FFKM
Name:
Temperature:
Application:
Provide high thermal and chemical resistance, for use in the most demanding chemical sealing applications, combination of the typical chemical resistance of PTFE with the elasticity and tightness of the elastomer/td>
