O-ring material family chemical compatibility, temperature resistance, and other properties all factor in to o-ring material selection for an application. This popular o-ring material family comparison shows basic rubber material family properties and performance plastic properties. The guide includes generalized recommended o-ring mateiral uses and non-recommended uses with typical material mechanical properties. Specific material compound formulations can significantly alter the general performance properties.
Click a material family row for details and compounds
Material
Temperature Range
Relative Price
Recommended Uses
Not Recommended For
Common Industry Applications:
Mechanical Properties
FFKM
(Perfluoroelastomer, Markez®, Chemraz® / Kalrez® / Simriz®) Standard: 5°F to 550°FBuna-N
(Nitrile) Order O-rings Online Standard: -35°F to 250°FViton®
(Fluorocarbon Type A) Order O-rings Online Standard: -15°F to 437°FSilicone
Order O-rings Online Standard: -65°F to 400°FEPDM
(Ethylene Propylene) Standard: -65°F to 300°FMaterial
Temperature Range
Relative Price
Recommended Uses
Not Recommended For
Common Industry Applications:
Mechanical Properties
Aflas®
(TFE/P)
Standard: 32°F to 450°FNeoprene®
(Chloroprene) Standard: -35°F to 250°FPolyurethane
Standard: -30°F to 180°FFluorosilicone
Standard: -80°F to 350°FTeflon® Encapsulated
Varies with O-ring Energizer Material Chemical ResistanceTeflon®
Standard: -250°F to 450°FMaterial
Temperature Range
Relative Price
Recommended Uses
Not Recommended For
Common Industry Applications:
Mechanical Properties
The temperature ranges presented above are approximations for dry air service only and should not be used to determine design specifications or end-use temperature limits. Actual temperature range of a compound in an end-use application is highly dependent on part type, hardware configuration, applied forces, chemical media, pressure and thermal cycling effects, and other factors. The most practical way of determining an end-use temperature range is testing in the actual application conditions. Consult a Marco Engineer for more details.
Selecting an O-Ring material for a specific application depends on many important criteria including:
Service Conditions (media to be sealed, temperature range, pressure/vacuum range, dynamic motion)
Design Attributes (component geometry, desired service life, installation considerations, tolerances)
This guide is intended for general reference use only.
The materials and compound numbers listed are the most commonly used.
There are numerous compound variations designed for specific applications.
For demanding applications, please provide all the details to our application engineers for a recommendation.
Don't see what you need? Please contact an application engineer for assistance in selecting the compound that provides the best combination of performance and price for your specific application.
O-Rings are an integral component in most industrial and mechanical systems. Because o-ring material selection is driven by an industrial or mechanical system, that system will define which material is best suited to fulfill the application requirements of the O-Ring. Therefore, the best O-Ring material is the material best-suited for the application. Today, the familiar donut-shaped gasket is used in a variety of static or dynamic applications and is one of the most common seals used in machinery throughout the world.
The O-Ring is very much an indispensable component. Any mechanical system whose parts requires fluids, oils, or like lubrication to function also requires gaskets such as O-Rings. Gaskets act as seals when compressed between surfaces. The seals do just that—they join mechanisms together within a mechanical device and prevent leakage or spills from seeping out of the device. They are the most widely used sealing product. With the further development of elastic polymer materials, O-Rings are utilized in nearly any mechanical application under any environmental condition or temperature, with exceptional chemical compatibility.
When O-Ring failure does happen, it may be a result of such factors as improper installation, lubrication, or incorrect size. Above all, selecting the wrong material for the application can greatly contribute to product failure. O-Rings are made through a number of manufacturing techniques such as injection or compression molding, or extrusion, with a number of elastomeric materials.
The diversity of O-Ring applications in large part is due to the wide variety of material used in its fabrication. O-Rings are manufactured with elastic polymers known as elastomers. When you think of elastomers, think elastic—the prime mechanical property that sets it apart from other polymers. These polymers are cured most often through vulcanization. The process produces long rubber molecules to resulting in improved elasticity, tensile strength, durability, viscosity, hardness and weather resistance. Different elastomeric materials have different properties for different applications. Some may be more elastic and others may be more weather resistant.
The key in O-Ring material selection is in ensuring the components mechanical properties are compatible with the sealing requirements for the device. Because your engineer or contractor may not always be on hand to consult, knowing which type of elastomer is compatible can be the difference between downtime and productive time. To assist with your decisions, here are six of the more common O-Ring materials and the mechanical properties they are best suited for:
Knowing the performance requirements for your sealing applications is an important step in selecting the right material for the job. Whether your seal will be subjected to rugged environments, temperature extremes or harsh chemicals will all play a part in your selecting an O-Ring. To meet your sealing application requirements, do not hesitate to consult with an expert at Manufacturer’s Rubber & Supply before making your final choice.