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Oil-Resistant Rubbers
Machine Design
Fri, 2002-11-15 12:30

These rubbers include grades suitable for service at temperatures to 250°C and having maximum
resistance to oils and greases. Some are considered specialty materials and are quite expensive.

Neoprene (CR; BC, BE): Except for polybutadiene and polyisoprene, neoprene is perhaps the most
rubberlike of all, particularly with regard to dynamic response. Neoprenes are a large family of rubbers
that have a property profile approaching that of natural rubber, and with better resistance to oils, ozone,
oxidation, and flame. They age better and do not soften on heat exposure, although high-temperature
tensile strength may be lower than that of NR.

These materials, like NR, can be used to make soft, high-strength compounds. A significant difference is
that, in addition to neoprene being more costly than NR by the pound, its density is about 25% greater
than that of natural rubber. Neoprenes do not have the low-temperature flexibility of natural rubber,
which detracts from their use in low-temperature shock or impact applications.

General-purpose neoprenes are used in hose, belting, wire and cable, footwear, coated fabrics, tires,
mountings, bearing pads, pump impellers, adhesives, seals for windows and curtain-wall panels, and
flashing and roofing. Neoprene latex is used for adhesives, dip-coated goods, and cellular cushioning
jackets.

Chlorinated polyethylene (CM; DE): This family of elastomers is produced by the random
chlorination of high-density polyethylene. Because of the high degree of chemical saturation of the
polymer chain, the most desirable properties are obtained by crosslinking with the use of peroxides or by
radiation. Sulfur donor cure systems are available that produce vulcanizates with only minor
performance losses compared to that of peroxide cures. However, the free radical crosslinking by means
of peroxides is most commonly used and permits easy and safe processing, with outstanding shelf
stability and optimum cured properties.

Chlorinated polyethylene elastomers, sold by the Dow Chemical Co. under the trade name Tyrin, are
used in automotive hose applications, premium hydraulic hose, chemical hose, tubing, belting, sheet
packing, foams, wire and cable, and in a variety of molded products. Properties include excellent ozone
and weather resistance, heat resistance to 300°F (to 350°F in many types of oil), dynamic flexing
resistance and good abrasion resistance.

Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM; DE): This material, more commonly known as Hypalon (Du
Pont), can be compounded to have an excellent combination of properties including virtually total
resistance to ozone and excellent resistance to abrasion, weather, heat, flame, oxidizing chemicals, and

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crack growth. In addition, CSM has low moisture absorption, good dielectric properties, and can be
made in a wide range of colors because it does not require carbon black for reinforcement. Resistance to
oil is similar to that of neoprene. Low-temperature flexibility is fair at -40°F.

Hypalon is a special-purpose rubber, not particularly recommended for dynamic applications. It is used
generally where its outstanding environmental resistance is needed. Typical applications include coated
fabrics, maintenance coatings, tank liners, protective boots for spark plugs and electrical connectors,
cable jacketing, and sheeting for pond liners and roofing.

Nitrile (NBR; BF, BG, BK, CH): The nitriles are copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile, used
primarily for applications requiring resistance to petroleum oils and gasoline. Resistance to aromatic
hydrocarbons is better than that of neoprene but not as good as that of polysulfide. NBR has excellent
resistance to mineral and vegetable oils, but relatively poor resistance to the swelling action of
oxygenated solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and other ketones. It has good resistance to
acids and bases except those having strong oxidizing effects. Resistance to heat aging is good, often a key
advantage over NR.

With higher acrylonitrile content, the solvent resistance of an NBR compound is increased but low-
temperature flexibility is decreased. Low-temperature resistance is inferior to that of natural rubber, and
although NBR can be compounded to give improved performance in this area, the gain is usually at the
expense of oil and solvent resistance. As with SBR, this material does not crystallize on stretching, and
reinforcing materials are required to obtain high strength. With compounding, nitrile rubbers can
provide a good balance of low creep, good resilience, low permanent set, and good abrasion resistance.

Tear resistance is inferior to that of natural rubber, and electrical insulation is lower. NBR is used
instead of natural rubber where increased resistance to petroleum oils, gasoline, or aromatic
hydrocarbons is required. Uses of NBR include carburetor and fuel-pump diaphragms and aircraft hoses
and gaskets. In many of these applications, the nitriles compete with polysulfides and neoprenes.

Epichlorohydrin (CO, ECO; CH): Epichlorohydrin rubber is available as a homopolymer (CO) and a
copolymer (ECO) of epichlorohydrin. Reinforced, these rubbers have moderate tensile strength and
elongation properties, plus an unusual combination of other characteristics. One of these is low heat
buildup, which makes them suitable for applications involving cyclic shock or vibration.

The homopolymer has outstanding resistance to ozone, good resistance to swelling by oils, intermediate
heat resistance, extremely low permeability to gases, and excellent weathering properties. This rubber
also has low resilience characteristics and low-temperature flexibility only to 5°F -- characteristics that
may be unsuitable for some applications.

The copolymer is more resilient and has low-temperature flexibility to -40°F, but it is more permeable to
gases. Oil resistance of both compounds is about the same. Typical applications include bladders,
diaphragms, vibration-control equipment, mounts, vibration dampers, seals, gaskets, fuel hose, rollers,
and belting.

Ethylene/acrylic: This family of rubbers is sold by Du Pont, under the trade name of Vamac.
Introduced in 1975 in masterbatch form, the family was expanded in 1983 by the addition of a gum
polymer. Vamac materials provide, at a moderate price, heat and fluid resistance surpassed by only the
more expensive, specialty polymers such as fluorocarbons and fluorosilicones. The material has very
good resistance to hot oils, hydrocarbon-based or glycol-based proprietary lubricants, transmission and

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power-steering fluids. It is not recommended for use with esters, ketones, highly aromatic fluids or high-
pressure steam. A special feature of Vamac is its nearly constant damping characteristic over broad
ranges of temperature, frequency, and amplitude.

The polymer is recommended for applications requiring a durable, set-resistant rubber with good low-
temperature properties and resistance to the combined deteriorating influences of heat, oil, and weather.
It is used in various automotive components such as mounts, gaskets, seals, boots, and ignition-wire
jackets. Electrical applications include oil-well platform cable jackets, plenum cable, transit-wire jackets,
and marine cable.

Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM): Chemical resistance of perfluoroelastomer parts is similar to that of

PTFE, and mechanical properties are similar to those of the fluorocarbon rubbers. This high-
performance, high-priced rubber, produced by Du Pont as Kalrez, and by Greene, Tweed & Co. as
Chemraz, is essentially unaffected by all fluids, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, esters,
ethers, ketones, oils, lubricants, and most acids. However, some fully halogenated fluids and strong
oxidizing acids may cause swelling. The parts are suitable for continuous service to 290°C and
intermittent service to 316°C. Resistance to ozone, weather, and flame is exceptional. Radiation
resistance is good and high-vacuum performance excellent.

Perfluoroelastomer parts are used primarily in demanding fluid-sealing applications in the chemical-
processing, oil-production, aerospace, and aircraft industries.

Acrylate (ACM, ANM; DF, DH): These are specialty rubbers based on polymers of methyl, ethyl, or
other alkyl acrylates. They are highly resistant to oxygen and ozone, and their heat resistance is superior
to that of all other commercial rubbers except the silicones and the fluorine-containing rubbers. Water
resistance is poor, however, so the acrylates are not recommended for use with steam or water-soluble
materials such as methanol or ethylene glycol. However, flex life is excellent as is permeability
resistance. Resistance to oil swell and deterioration is also excellent at high temperatures.

Low-temperature flexibility is not good, and these rubbers decompose in alkaline solutions and are
swelled by acids. Low-temperature flexibility and water resistance can be improved, but only with a
marked decrease in heat and oil resistance. These materials are used extensively for bearing seals in
transmissions, and for O-rings and gaskets.

Polysulfide (PTR; AK, BK): These polymers have outstanding resistance to oils, greases, and solvents,
but they have an unpleasant odor, resilience is poor, and heat resistance is only fair. Abrasion resistance
is half that of natural rubber, and tensile strength ranges from 1,200 to 1,400 psi. However, these values
are retained after extended immersion in oil.

Basic properties of polysulfide polymers are determined by the type of chain structure and the number of
sulfur atoms in the polysulfide groups. Increased sulfur concentration improves solvent and oil
resistance, and also reduces permeability to gases. These materials are used in gasoline hose, printing
rolls, caulking, adhesives, and binders.

Silicone (VMPQ, PVMQ; MQ, PMQ, FC, FE, GE): Silicone rubber comprises a versatile family of
semiorganic synthetics that look and feel like organic rubber, yet have a completely different type of
structure from other rubbers. The backbone of the rubber is not a chain of carbon atoms but an
arrangement of silicone and oxygen atoms. This structure gives a very flexible chain with weak

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interchain forces, which provides a remarkably small change in dynamic characteristics over a wide
temperature range.

Silicone rubbers have no molecular orientation or crystallization or stretching and must be strengthened
by reinforcing materials. The cost of silicone rubbers is not as dependent on petroleum cost as are costs
of the synthetic organic rubbers. Although silicones are at the high end of the cost range for rubbers, they
can be made to withstand temperatures as high as 600°F without deterioration. At the other end of the
scale, silicones retain useful flexibility at -150°F.

While the strength of silicone rubbers is lower than that of other rubbers, these materials have
outstanding fatigue and flex resistance. They do not require high tensile strength to serve in dynamic
applications. Fall-off in tensile properties with extended exposure to high temperature is much less than
for other rubbers. Resistance to chemical deterioration, oils, oxygen, and ozone is also retained under
these conditions. Chemical inertness makes these materials well suited for surgical and food-processing
equipment. One and two-part silicone sealants are used as structural adhesives and weatherseals in
commercial buildings.

Fluorosilicone (FVMQ; FK): This type of silicone provides most of the useful qualities of the regular
silicones plus improved resistance to many hydrocarbon fluids such as fuels. Exceptions are ketones and
phosphate esters; however, FVMQ rubbers can be blended with conventional dimethyl silicones, which
have good resistance to these fluids at temperatures to 300°F. The FVMQ rubbers are most useful where
the best in low-temperature flexibility is required in addition to fluid resistance, although resistance to
fluids (especially those containing aromatics) is poorer than that of the FKM-type fluorocarbon rubbers.

Fluorosilicone rubbers have moderate dielectric properties, low compression set, and excellent
resistance to ozone and weathering. They are expensive and definitely special purpose. Typical
applications include seals, tank linings, diaphragms, O-rings, and protective boots in electrical
equipment.

Fluorocarbon (FKM; HK): Generally produced as a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and

hexafluoropropylene, the fluorocarbons are high-performance, high-cost rubbers known generally as
Viton (Du Pont) and Fluorel (3M). These rubbers have outstanding resistance to heat and to many
chemicals, oils, and solvents compared to any other commercial rubber. In air, fluorocarbon rubber
parts retain at least half of their original properties after 16-hr exposure at 600°F. These same
compounds offer low-temperature stability to -40°F.

In the reinforced state, these rubbers offer moderate tensile strength but relatively low elongation
properties. They resist oxidation and ozone, and they do not support combustion. Several versions are
available, and conventional compounding produces formulations within a hardness range of 65 to 95
Shore A. Fluorocarbon rubbers are severely attacked by highly polar fluids such as ketones, hydrazine,
anhydrous ammonia, and Skydrol (phosphate ester) hydraulic fluids. Postcuring is required to develop
optimum properties. Typical applications are seals, gaskets, diaphragms, pump impellers, tubing, and
vacuum and radiation equipment.

Urethane (AU, EU; BG): These rubbers, combinations of polyesters or polyethers and diisocyanates,
are unusual in that physical properties do not depend on compounding materials. Urethanes crosslink
and undergo chain extension to produce a wide variety of compounds. They are available as castable or
liquid materials and as solids or millable gums.

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Urethane polymers have outstanding abrasion resistance, excellent tensile strength and load-bearing
capacity, and elongation potential, accompanied by high hardness. Other properties include low-
temperature resistance, high tear strength, either high or low coefficient of friction, good radiation
resistance, and good elasticity and resilience, even in very hard stocks.

Typical applications include seals, bumpers, metal-forming dies, valve seats, liners, coupling elements,
rollers, wheels, and conveyor belts, especially where abrasive conditions are present.

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