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If you are in the market for a durable sealing solution for a demanding application, FFKM rubber seals offer outstanding advantages. Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) rubber seals offer the dual benefits of excellent chemical resistance and a wide operating temperature of -40°C to +330°C, making them ideally suited to the harshest of applications.
In this article, TRP Solutions explores some of the applications that can benefit from FFKM rubber seals.
When applied in chemical processing applications, FFKM rubber seals can significantly reduce downtime and overall maintenance costs. FFKM materials, like our TRPlast™ range of compounds, offer near-universal chemical resistance, similar to that of PTFE but with elastomeric properties comparable to standard fluorocarbon rubbers.
Both durable and reliable, FFKM rubber seals are able to withstand even the most extreme chemical processing environments. With this in mind, FFKM is a proven sealing material for rubber seals used in pumps and valves that are found in chemical processing equipment.
FFKM rubber seals are also ideal for road, rail, and maritime chemical transportation. FFKM contains 72.5% fluorine with a completely fluorinated backbone chain, the maximum level of fluorine content available in an elastomer. This molecular structure gives FFKM its innate chemical resistance. Specifying FFKM rubber seals offers the ideal solution where multiple different chemicals can be transported, to ensure your seals will have resistance to the broadest range of substances.
While chemical applications are among the most common uses for FFKM rubber seals, there are other scenarios where their durability can prove useful. One of these is in oil & gas applications. Much like chemical processing, oil and gas applications also involve hazardous environments with high temperatures and demanding conditions. FFKM seals possesses excellent resistance to fuel and oil, making them suitable for such applications.
Most standard polymers do not offer the combination of high temperature and chemical resistance necessary to perform to the desired level in oil and gas applications. This minimises the chances of exploration and recovery of oil, gas and hydrocarbons. FFKM rubber offers excellent sour gas resistance and can be formulated for rapid gas decompression (RGD) resistance. These qualities mean they can overcome such difficulties, allowing safe operation in the harsh environments and high pressures seen in oil and gas applications.
TRP Polymer Solutions have over 25 years of industry experience in the manufacture of FFKM and other high-performance elastomers to suit the most demanding applications. For more information or advice regarding our FFKM rubber seals, please contact us today by calling 01432 2698899 or email us at sales@trp.co.uk.
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Understanding the differences between FKM and FFKM materials is critical in determining the right sealing solution for each application.
FKM is the ASTM designation for a class of fluorinated, carbon-based synthetic rubber, commonly known as fluoroelastomer. Its impressive heat resistance allows FKM seals to withstand temperatures greater than 200°C. FKM also exhibits extraordinary levels of resistance to high pressures, chemicals, and other fluids – including several fuels.
FKM was originally developed in the late 1950s in response to demand for high performance seals in the aerospace industry. Continued development brought new advancements including greater thermal stability and improved heat, solvent, and compression resistance.
Today, FKM materials are commonly used to manufacture O-rings, seals, and gaskets for critical applications in automotive, aerospace, energy, semiconductor, and industrial operations.
FFKM, or perfluoroelastomer, contains higher amounts of fluorine than standard FKM, resulting in higher temperature ratings (up to approximately 325°C/617°F) and improved chemical resistance with nearly universal chemical compatibility. This combination of high-performance capabilities makes FFKM seals the premium choice for industry’s most demanding applications.
The first commercially available FFKM seal was produced in the late 1960s, though widespread manufacturing of FFKM materials did not occur until the late 1980s due to patent restrictions.
FFKM is used in O-rings and seals in environments with high temperatures and/or harsh chemicals in the aerospace, semiconductor, energy, pharmaceutical and industrial operations.
Greene Tweed offers a vast portfolio of FKM and FFKM sealing solutions to meet the demands of industry’s most critical applications.
Greene Tweed’s proprietary FFKM material, Chemraz®, has the broadest chemical resistance of any elastomeric material, combining the resilience and sealing force of an elastomer with chemical resistance approaching that of PTFE.
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