Key Performance Differences of Viton™ Products
There are four major families of Viton™ fluoroelastomers: A, B, F, and ETP, each with its own unique performance characteristics.
A major differentiator between the Viton™ product families is fluid resistance, which is based on the polymer's fluorine level. This property is determined by the type and the relative amounts of the specific monomers that make up the polymer.
Fluid resistance generally improves with increasing levels of fluorine (see the table below). As the fluorine level increases, however, low-temperature flexibility decreases. This helps designers and engineers to balance the fluid resistance and low-temperature flexibility of the final vulcanization.
Choosing which Viton™ product to use for any given application will be determined by the end-use service. Selecting the appropriate fluoroelastomer ultimately will be determined on the desired:
- Resistance to amines or caustics
- Resistance to hydrocarbon fluids
- Flexibility at low temperature (ability to maintain a seal at low temperature)
See the chart below for general performances differences. For more details, see the full Product Selection Guide, the Chemical Resistance Guide, or Contact us.
