High Performance Elastomer
Perfluoroelastomer material containing higher amounts of fluorine than standard fluoroelastomers to provide extreme chemical and thermal resistance. The molecular structure of ffkm consists of fully fluorinated polymer chains, which creates a carbon fluorine bond that is exceptionally strong. It provides the primary sealing solution in the most demanding industrial environments.
This grade of rubber is often utilized where standard elastomers fail within hours or days.
Operating Envelope
Continuous service temperatures for these compounds often reach three hundred degrees Celsius or higher, far exceeding the limits of standard grade rubber. Resistance to thermal degradation prevents the leakage associated with seal hardening and shrinkage.
Solvent Durability
Broad spectrum chemical compatibility allows the material to withstand exposure to over eighteen hundred different chemicals. It remains stable in aggressive acids, bases and organic solvents that would dissolve or swell other polymers. This inertness is a result of the shielding provided by the fluorine atoms surrounding the carbon backbone.
Market Position
High production costs and complex processing requirements make this one of the most expensive elastomeric materials available. Its use is typically reserved for applications where the cost of a seal failure far outweighs the initial component price. Frequent replacements in critical semiconductor or oilfield tools are avoided by specifying this high grade material.
The value is found in the reduction of unplanned maintenance and process downtime.
