Name or

code

Description

Approval

Temperature
1
limits

NBR

Nitrile Butadiene Rubber; for non-product contact

-50 to
o
+135 C

HNBR

Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber

FDA

-25 to
o
+145 C

EPDM

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer; standard valve

seal

FDA

-40 to
o
+135 C

FFKM
[Kalrez]

Perfluorelastomer

FDA

FPM [Viton]

Fluorinated Propylene Monomer; known as FKM in USA

FDA

PEEK

Poly-Ether Ether-Ketone

-10 to
o
+200 C
-50 to
o
+260 C

PTFE [Teflon] Poly-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene; not flexible; PFA [used by

E+H] is similar

FDA

-40 to
o
+230 C

Graphite

Up to 500 C

Carbon allotrope [used in lead pencils] a necessary

component of seals for steam

Name

Very good
compatibility

Good compatibility

Not suitable for

NBR

Petroleum, ethylene glycol

Acids, ozone and weathering

HNBR

Vegetable and animal

oils and fats

Aliphatics [e.g. methane, fatty acids, ethylene]

Aromatic [e.g. benzene] or

chlorinated hydrocarbons

wear from aging, ozone

and weathering

Saturated steam [max 135oC]

EPDM

FFKM

FPM

PTFE

wear from aging, ozone

and weathering

Up to 3% acids and caustics [max 80oC]

Oils, fats, fuel or hydrocarbons

Up to 5% acids and caustics [max 80oC]

Hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, inorganic

and organic acids, steam

Fluorinated refrigerants

Mineral oils and fats

Steam and hot water over 80oC

Up to 5% acids [max 100oC]; Up to 5% caustics

[max 40oC]

Chemicals, fuels, oils

Solid caustic; dynamic

applications [it will cold-flow]