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Differences between Viton® and FKM and application options
Genuine Chemours Viton® – Only the Best
View more Viton® O-ring product information
Introduced in 1958, Viton® fluoroelastomer has long been trusted by scientists and engineers around the world for its superior performance and unique material properties. However, Chemours is not the only company that produces fluoroelastomer (FKM). There is a common misunderstanding in the industry: all FKM elastomers are collectively referred to as Viton®. Products that are not made with 100% original Chemours Viton® ingredients often fail to meet the stringent quality standards and performance expectations Chemours has set for Viton®. Chemours Viton® production sites are located around the world, and all factories are ISO 9002 certified, ensuring stable and reliable quality.
Visit the Chemours Company page for more technical information.
Viton® designated material of choice due to superior performance
Viton® fluorine rubber has excellent heat resistance, oxidation resistance, weather resistance and ozone resistance, and has excellent corrosion resistance to a variety of media such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and strong acids. Its excellent resistance to compression set results in a more reliable sealing effect and longer service life, which is unmatched by any non-fluorinated elastomer.
These properties make Viton® fluoroelastomer O-rings ideal for sealing applications in severe service conditions. However, some low-priced “imitation fluororubber” products on the market can easily lead to the risk of seal failure. Some manufacturers launch so-called “commercial grade” and “industrial grade” fluororubber at lower prices. The nature of their low prices is not truly cost-effective, but rather that they do not use 100% pure fluororubber raw materials. Most of these products are blends of fluorine rubber and hydrocarbon elastomers such as ethylene-propylene rubber, chloroprene rubber, and acrylic rubber.
Although a variety of hydrocarbon rubbers can be blended reasonably to achieve comprehensive performance, fluorine rubber is not suitable for mixing with hydrocarbon rubbers, otherwise the heat resistance, medium resistance and compression set resistance of the vulcanized rubber will be significantly reduced.
Because Viton® itself is far more fluid-resistant than ordinary hydrocarbon rubber, its blends with other rubbers will have significantly lower performance than 100% pure fluoroelastomer (FKM) and simply cannot reach the performance level of pure Viton®. Therefore, please be wary of the low-price trap: this type of blended material is not “low-cost fluoroelastomer”, but a hydrocarbon rubber with mediocre performance but a high premium.
If your application requires fluoroelastomer seals, it is recommended to use 100% pure Viton® fluoroelastomer (FKM) rather than “low-cost” blends of FKM and hydrocarbon rubber, and insist on using sealing components made from genuine Viton® raw materials. Our Authentic Viton® Authorization System assures end users that the elastomer portion of a finished product bearing the Authentic Viton® logo is produced from 100% pure Viton® fluoroelastomer.
Develop detailed specifications
Specifications that are incomplete, inaccurate, or allow for arbitrary substitutions can cause quality and performance issues. A well-standardized specification can clarify the material type and quantitatively define the key performance indicators of the seal, helping suppliers provide the most cost-effective fluororubber (FKM) solution for your application scenario. When Chemours Viton® is specified in the specification, the performance of the final product can be further enhanced by its category advantage, which can be tailored to the actual application.
Chemours Viton® is available in a variety of types and series to assist users in selecting the most cost-effective elastomer material. Each series achieves a precise balance of mechanical properties and provides exclusive resistance to different working conditions and fluid media.
How can I tell if a part is made from genuine Viton® fluoroelastomer?
Q: How can I tell if a part is made of genuine Viton® fluoroelastomer?
Answer: The most reliable way is to confirm whether the supplier is officially authorized by Chemours, and to provide raw material certificates, material certificates and relevant test reports to ensure the use of 100% pure Viton® raw materials.
Q: What are the possible risks with low-priced FKM fluoroelastomer products?
Answer: Low-priced products are often blended rubber, not pure fluororubber, which will lead to a significant decrease in heat resistance, medium resistance, and resistance to compression permanent deformation, and are prone to problems such as sealing failure and premature aging.
Q: Is there a noticeable difference in performance between blended rubber and 100% pure Viton®?
Answer: There is a fundamental difference. After Viton® is mixed with hydrocarbon rubber, its temperature resistance, oil resistance, chemical resistance and service life will be significantly reduced, making it impossible to achieve the standard performance of pure Viton®.
Q: Can I tell if it is a genuine Viton® by its appearance?
Answer: It is difficult to accurately judge the appearance. It is necessary to rely on material testing, hardness testing, compression permanent deformation testing, raw material traceability certificates, etc. to truly verify whether it is genuine.
Q: What does specifying Viton® on a drawing or specification do?
Answer: Clearly specifying Viton® can prevent suppliers from using substitute materials or admixtures, ensure product performance is stable, meet harsh working conditions, and reduce the risk of later failures and recalls.
Q: What is the safest way to purchase genuine Viton® parts?
Answer: Choose a seal manufacturer authorized by Chemours and provide raw material certificates, COA reports and product warranty for each batch to ensure the authenticity and reliability of the materials from the source.
To ensure you always get the highest quality FKM products, stick to 100% pure Viton® ingredients and look for the official “Made with Genuine Viton®” logo.