Viton-Selection-Guide.Pdf
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Selection Guide Fluoroelastomers Technical Information Introduction Viton™ is characterized by its: Viton™ fluoroelastomer was introduced in 1957 to • Resistance to degradation by a greater variety of fluids meet the needs of the aerospace industry for a high- and chemicals than any other non-fluorinated elastomer. performance seal elastomer. Since then, the use of Excellent resistance to oils, fuels, lubricants, and most Viton™ fluoroelastomer has expanded to many other mineral acids. industries, especially in the automotive, fluid power, • Extremely low permeability to a broad range of appliance, and chemical fields. With over half a century substances, including particularly good performance in of proven performance, Viton™ fluoroelastomer has oxygenated automotive fuels. developed a reputation for outstanding performance in high temperature and extremely corrosive environments. • Resistance to aliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbons that dissolve other rubbers. Valuable Properties of Viton™ Fluoroelastomer • Exceptionally good resistance to compression set, even at Vulcanizates based on Viton™ provide an exceptional high temperatures. balance of physical property characteristics, including the following features: • Exceptionally good resistance to atmospheric oxidation, sun, and weather. Excellent resistance to fungus and mold. Resistance to Temperature Extremes • Good electrical properties in low voltage, low frequency Heat—Compared to most other elastomers, Viton™ applications. is better able to withstand high temperature, while simultaneously retaining its good mechanical properties. • Low burning characteristics; inherently more resistant to Oil and chemical resistance are also essentially burning than other, non-fluorinated hydrocarbon rubbers. unaffected by elevated temperatures. Compounds of Safety and Handling Viton™ remain substantially elastic indefinitely when exposed to laboratory air oven aging up to 204 °C As with many polymers, minute quantities of potentially (399 °F) or to intermittent exposures up to 316 °C irritating or harmful gases may diffuse from uncured Viton™, (601 °F). High temperature service limits are generally even at room temperature. Therefore, all containers should considered to be: be opened and used only in well-ventilated areas. In case of eye contact, immediately flush the eyes for at least 15 – 3,000 hr at 232 °C (450 °F) minutes with water. Always wash contacted skin with soap – 1,000 hr at 260 °C (500 °F) and water after handling Viton™. – 240 hr at 288 °C (550 °F) Potential hazards, including the evolution of toxic vapors, may arise during compounding, processing, and curing – 48 hr at 316 °C (601 °F) of raw polymers into finished products or under high- Cold—Viton™ low temperature performance is dependent temperature service conditions. Therefore, before handling on type, with serviceability as low as –31 °C (–24 °F) in or processing Viton™, make sure that you read and follow dynamic seals and –45 °C (–49 °F) in static seals using the recommendations in the Chemours technical bulletin, Viton™ GLT-S. “Handling Precautions for Viton™ and Related Chemicals.” Compounding ingredients and solvents that are used with Viton™ to prepare finished products may present hazards in handling and use. Before proceeding with any compounding or processing work, consult and follow label directions and handling precautions from suppliers of all ingredients. Viton™ Fluoroelastomers The Various Families and Types of Viton™ Viton™ GLT-S provides the same excellent resistance Fluoroelastomers to heat and fluids that is typical of the A types of ™ ™ ™ Standard types of Viton™ fluoroelastomer products Viton fluoroelastomer. Viton GFLT-S, like Viton are designated as A, B, or F according to their relative GLT-S, exhibits significantly improved low temperature resistance to attack by fluids and chemicals. The flex characteristics compared to standard types of ™ differences in fluid resistance are the result of different fluoroelastomer. In addition, Viton GFLT-S provides the levels of fluorine in the polymer, which is determined same superior resistance to fluids that is typical of the ™ by the types and relative amounts of copolymerized F types of Viton fluoroelastomer. monomers that comprise the polymer. Types of Viton™ Extreme™ ™ In general, Viton exhibits outstanding resistance to Fluoroelastomers that contain copolymerized vinylidene attack from a wide variety of fluids, including mineral fluoride (VF2) are subject to attack by high pH materials, acids, and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The including caustics and amines. In addition, standard higher the fluorine content of the polymer, the less will be fluoroelastomers are not resistant to low molecular the effect, as measured by volume increase for example. weight carbonyl compounds, such as methyl ethyl ketone, The most significant differences between A, B, and F acetone, or methyl tertiarybutyl ether. types of Viton™, in terms of resistance to volume change ™ ™ or retention of physical properties, are exhibited in low Viton Extreme ETP-600S is a copolymer of ethylene, molecular weight, oxygenated solvents (such as methanol tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), and perfluoromethylvinyl ether and methyl t-butyl ether). (PMVE). This unique combination of monomers provides outstanding resistance to fluids and is an example of ™ As mentioned above, the fluid resistance of Viton A, B, an ETP polymer. The ETP types of Viton™ exhibit the and F types improves with increasing fluorine levels. This same excellent resistance to acids and hydrocarbons is shown in Table 1 (note the volume increase after aging typical of A, B, and F types of Viton™. Unlike conventional in methanol at 23 °C [73 °F]). As the fluorine content fluoroelastomers, however, ETP types of Viton™ also increases, however, the low temperature flexibility of the provide excellent resistance to low molecular weight polymer decreases, and a compromise must be made esters, ketones, and aldehydes. In addition, these unique between fluid resistance and low temperature flexibility polymers are inherently resistant to attack by base and, of the final vulcanizate. thus, provide excellent resistance to volume swell and For those applications that require the best performance property loss in highly caustic solutions and amines. in both fluid resistance and low temperature flexibility, a Additional information regarding performance differences ™ number of specialty types of Viton were developed that between the various families and types of Viton™ contain a copolymerized fluorinated vinyl ether monomer. fluoroelastomer is presented in Tables 3–6 to assist Polymers that contain this monomer exhibit significantly in selecting the particular grade of Viton™ that is best improved low temperature flexibility, compared to suited for both a given end-use application and a specific standard types of fluoroelastomer. manufacturing process. Table 1. Polymer Fluorine Content Versus Fluid Resistance and Low Temperature Flexibility Standard Types Specialty Types A B F GLT-S GFLT-S ETP-S Nominal Polymer Fluorine Content, wt% 66 68 70 64 67 67 Percent Volume Change in Fuel C, 168 hr at 23 °C (73 °F)* 4 3 2 5 2 4 Percent Volume Change in Methanol, 168 hr at 23 °C (73 °F)* 90 40 5 90 5 5 Percent Volume Change in Methyl Ethyl Ketone, 168 hr at 23 °C (73 °F)* >200 >200 >200 >200 >200 19 Percent Volume Change in 30% Potassium Hydroxide, 168 hr at 70 °C (158 °F)* (Samples too swollen and degraded to test) 14 Low Temperature Flexibility, TR-10, °C* –17 –13 –6 –30 –24 –12 *Nominal values, based on results typical of those obtained from testing a standard, 30 phr MT (N990) carbon black-filled, 75 durometer vulcanizate. These are not intended to serve as specifications. 2 Viton™ Fluoroelastomers Curing Systems for Viton™ Fluoroelastomer cross-linking systems. When properly formulated, peroxide In addition to inherent differences between the various cross-linking provides enhanced resistance to aggressive types and families of Viton™ fluoroelastomer, a number automotive lubricating oils, steam, mineral and organic of compounding variables have major effects on the acids, and aggressive biodiesel. Generally, vulcanizates of ™ physical property characteristics of the final vulcanizates. Viton fluoroelastomers cured with peroxide do not show One very important variable is the cross-linking or curing any significant difference in resistance to hydrocarbon system that is used to vulcanize the elastomer. fluids compared to a polymer of similar fluorine content cured with bisphenol. Diamine curatives were introduced in 1957 for cross- ™ linking Viton™ A. While these diamine curatives are In 2003, a series of peroxide-cure types of Viton relatively slow curing and do not provide the best possible made with Advanced Polymer Architecture (APA) was resistance to compression set, they do offer unique introduced. These polymers, designated as APA polymers advantages. For example, compounds cured with diamines by having an “S” suffix on the product name, incorporate a exhibit excellent adhesion to metal inserts and high hot significantly improved cure site. As a result, they provide tensile strength. substantially better processing and physical properties, compared to the original, non-APA peroxide-cure types Most fluoroelastomers are cross-linked with Bisphenol of Viton™. A comparison of the various processing and AF, a curative introduced in 1970 in the first commercial physical property characteristics of compounds using the ™ curative-containing