Fluorosilicone gaskets combine the high and low temperature
resistance of silicones with the fuel and oil resistance of fluorocarbons. Some
fluorosilicone gasket materials also resist abrasion and provide EMI shielding.
Is fluorosilicone the right rubber for your gasketing application?
Fluorosilicones combine the
temperature resistance of silicones with the fuel, oil, and solvent resistance
of fluorocarbons. Applications for these extreme-environment elastomers include
automotive, aerospace, and defense. For technical buyers and design engineers, however,
choosing the right rubber may involve more than specifying a temperature range,
oil or fuel type, and industry. Is flurosilicone right for your sealing and
insulation application? If so, are you looking for custom fabrication expertise?
Fluorosilicone Properties and
Applications
Flurosilicone's mechanical properties
vary with service temperature, and some compounds provide resistance to
abrasion and electromagnetic interference (EMI). In addition to fuel line seals,
engine gaskets, and exhaust gas recirculating diaphragms, fluorosilicone rubber
is used in O-rings, tank linings, protective boots for electrical equipment,
and in plasma ashing equipment for the semiconductor industry. Metal-filled
fluorosilicones provide electrical conductivity, too.
Fluorinated Silicone Rubber
Like other silicone compounds,
fluorosilicone rubber (FSR, FVMQ) resists high temperatures, low temperatures,
ozone, aging, ultraviolet light, and weathering. Typically, FSR or FVMQ rubbers
are blended with dimethyl silicones, elastomers that provide good temperature stability. Silicones, a large family of
synthetic rubbers, are used in environmental sealing and are chemically inert.
These elastomers also have good dielectric properties and are available as
molded rubber products and extrusions.
FSR Rubber for Fluid Resistance and
Abrasion Resistance
Fluorinated silicone rubber contains fluorine
additions that impart resistance to hydrocarbon fluids such as jet fuels. These
synthetic elastomers also resist oxidizing chemicals, chlorinated solvents,
aliphatic and aromatic fluorocarbons, silicone oil, and animal and vegetable
oils. Although some FSR rubbers have poor abrasion resistance, others have
benefited from advancements in fluorosilicone chemistry. For example, some FSR elastomers have
an abrasion resistance that's superior to FKM or Viton.
Fluorosilicones for Static and Dynamic
Sealing
Traditionally, fluorosilicones were
used only in static sealing applications. Thanks to their improved abrasion
resistance, however, some FSR materials are now used in dynamic applications
such as sliding shaft seals and rotating seals. Other types of oil-resistant rubbers are available, but FVMQ may be the
right choice for your sealing application because of its fuel resistance, outstanding
low-temperature flexibility, and low compression set.
Electrically-Conductive
Fluorosilicone for EMI Shielding
Fluorosilicone compounds that are
filled with metal particles or thin strands of metal wire combine environmental
sealing with EMI shielding. The insulation that these conductive shielding elastomers provide makes
them a good choice for industrial, commercial, and military applications.
Examples include fluorosilicones that are filled with silver-nickel or
silver-aluminum particles, or that contain Monel or aluminum wires. Shielding
silicones that that meet MIL-DTL-83528C requirements are available.
Custom Fluorosilicone Gaskets
Do you need help determining if fluorosilicone is right rubber for
your application? If FSR or FVMQ rubbers meet your requirements, do you know
which kind of compound you need? Elasto Proxy keeps hundreds of rubber profiles
in stock, and can source fluorosilicone compounds that meet your application
requirements. With our custom
fabrication expertise, we can also create specialty
flurosilicone gaskets for sealing and insulation.
How
can we help you? Download
this document to learn more about our technical design and custom
fabrication capabilities.
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