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The Science Bit

Commercial perfluoroelastomers are terpolymers of TFE (tetrafluoro-ethylene), PMVE (perfluoro-methylvinyl ether), and a cure site monomer. It is the fully-fluorinated (the ‘FF’ in FFKM) monomers in perfluoro-elastomers create extremely strong carbon=fluorine bonding, making the chemical structure virtually unbreakable, hence providing superior chemical resistance.

The polymer’s saturated backbone - no double bonds - means immunity from chemical attack by oxygen, ozone, UV light, or harsh chemicals. As a bonus, polymers with high levels of fluorine, as opposed to hydrogen, have proven to be more stable and less reactive.

Modern perfluoroelastomers can trace their lineage back to the late 60s, when chemists pioneered the combination of Teflon’s chemical resistance with Viton’s elasticity, creating a fully-fluorinated polymer that could be cross-linked. Early perfluoro-elastomers made use of bisphenol cross-links but this caused a high degree of compression set.

DP Seals moulds FFKM

Multi-way perfluoroelastomer fibre optic cable grommet

DP Seals has created custom mouldings primarily from peroxide cross-linked FFKM. The company’s clients have exploited the main advantages of this compound - less compression set and higher strength at lower cost – in oil exploration, petroleum processing and automotive systems. Importantly, these compounds also offer benefits to DP Seals, particularly in terms of lower hydrogen fluoride gas production during the moulding process.

DP Seals has delivered FFKM parts to customers’ specifications in automotive, oilfield and pipe line applications, enabling the company to get to grips with - and surmount -the problems this material presents. And on price: we currently appear to be less than half the price of our competition.

If you have a demanding rubber seal or moulding application and been frightened of using FFKM, talk to us. We deliver custom rubber mouldings at competitive prices.