Chemically resistant sealing options

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the selection of chemically resistant sealing solutions, specifically focusing on FFKM (perfluoroelastomer) seals for use in the chemical processing industry. Participants explore various materials, their chemical resistance properties, and suitability for specific applications, including temperature and pressure considerations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the effectiveness of FFKM seals for chemical processing and mentions TRPlast as a potential alternative with similar properties to PTFE.
  • Another participant emphasizes that there is no single best option for all chemicals and conditions, highlighting the importance of specifying the chemicals and their operating conditions.
  • A different participant notes that the specific formulation of FFKM can greatly affect its suitability, indicating that different fillers can lead to varying performance outcomes.
  • One participant humorously suggests using silly putty, which may not be taken seriously in a technical context.
  • A participant shares their experience with materials like Viton and PTFE, mentioning the need for compatibility with high temperatures and vacuum conditions, and suggests using ceramic as an alternative.
  • Another participant reiterates the inquiry about FFKM and discusses the performance of fluoropolymer elastomers, suggesting that silicone may be a more cost-effective and durable option for lower temperatures.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the best sealing material for chemical processing, with no consensus reached. The discussion includes multiple competing views on the suitability of FFKM, Viton, PTFE, and silicone, as well as the importance of specific application details.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the variability in chemical resistance based on specific chemicals and conditions, and the discussion reflects a range of experiences and recommendations without resolving the complexities involved in material selection.

EagerBeaver1
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Does anyone have any experience with FFKM sealing solutions? I am looking for rubber seals to be used in the chemical processing industry and would need material that has high chemical resistant properties.

I've done some research online and found something called TRPlast which has a similar chemical resistance to PTFE so this could work, but before I rushed into making commitments, I thought it couldn't hurt to seek out a second opinion.

Is FFKM the best option for chemical processing or should I continue to shop around?

Thanks
 
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EagerBeaver1 said:
Is FFKM the best option for chemical processing or should I continue to shop around?

There is not a best option for *all* chemicals and *all* temperatures/pressures. Which chemicals are you trying to resist, and at what temperature/pressure?

Specifying Chemical resistance or chemical processing is vague. Liquid chlorine, sulphur gas, sulfuric acid, plasticizers, and ethylene oxide are all chemicals, but their elastomer specs can vary, especially when cost/temperature are concerned.
 
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What Chemair said.
Additionally: Once you decide on a material (FFKM, for example), you have the added concern of the specific formulation. FFKM with a carbon filler is absolutely unsuitable for some applications where FFKM with a 'mineral' filler performs beautifully. It's definitely an area where learning from the mistakes/successes of others is wise. Pioneering is expensive.
 
Use silly putty
 
I were looking for a rubber that withstand more than 100ºC and an oil (I could use the oil that is compatible with the rubber) and made a big chart but found no one better than viton and PTFE (I need compatibility also with vacuum) so I will use a ceramic :(

Here are seal compatibility charts that could help:
https://www.finemech.com/tech_resources/chemical_resistance.pdf
http://www.saltech.co.il/_uploads/dbsattachedfiles/chemical.pdf
 
EagerBeaver1 said:
Does anyone have any experience with FFKM sealing solutions? I am looking for rubber seals to be used in the chemical processing industry and would need material that has high chemical resistant properties.

I've done some research online and found something called TRPlast which has a similar chemical resistance to PTFE so this could work, but before I rushed into making commitments, I thought it couldn't hurt to seek out a second opinion.

Is FFKM the best option for chemical processing or should I continue to shop around?

Thanks
These materials above are belonging to family of fluoropolymer elastomers. It is on the high end of performance, although in your case temperature performance is possibly redundant while durability against mechanical stress may be problematic. For lower operating temperatures (below 150C typically) silicone (PDMS) based sealing parts are cheaper and more durable. Silicones have chemical resistance similar to fluoropolymers.
 

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