fluorosilicone gaskets
Fluorosilicone(FVMQ) is one of the materials that has many uses in the industry. The high cost reflects its customizability, and versatility. Fluorosilicone is the blue gold of the industry. Fluorosilicone typically comes in a standard blue color as many know in industry. This polymer is known to cost many times more than its silicone rubber counterpart. However, the cost is often worth the difference given its high level of solvent resistance, in addition to the many of the great properties of silicone rubber.
Why Pick Fluorosilicone Rubber for your Application?
Fluorosilicone is often chosen when silicone rubber would normally be appriopriate, but fluid, or fuel resistance comes into play. Fluorosilicones calling card is its high level of fuel resistance to clasically jet fuel, or gasoline. In the video experiment we do, you can see the little effect that unleaded gasoline has on a fluorosilicone gasket while chemically maiming a silicone gasket.
Price Tag of Fluorosilicone Rubber Products
One thing to be aware of when it comes to fluorosilicone rubber is that fluorosilicone has a significant price tag. In many cases, fluorosilicone rubber has a cost of around 6-8 times that of the same thickness, and size of a silicone rubber product.
Forms of Fluorosilicone Rubber
Below, we highlight a number of different forms fluorosilicone rubber can be found in. We sell quite a few of fluorosilicone rubber products including electrically conductive EMI gasketing requiring fuel resistance, solid fluorosilicone rubber ranging from 30A-70A durometer), and fluorosilicone sponge rubber for low closure force applications.
Fluorosilicone Solid Rubber
Fluorosilicone Solid Rubber is typically used in gasketing applications. Fluorosilicone Rubber features a lot of the same properties as silicone rubber. It becomes a go-to solution when compression force is a luxury, and solvent resistance is required. However, there are some times it is also used as an electrical insulator. It comes in durometers ranging from 20-80 Shore A. The thicknesses range from as thin as .010’’ to as thick as .500’’ thick. It is good to keep in mind that while fluorosilicone is typically blue it can be provided in different custom colors. In addition, solid o-rings are fabricated by bonding fluorosilicone cord stock together.
Commercial Fluorosilicone Rubber Gasketing Materials:
There are a number of fluorosilicone rubber gasekting materials available from different manufacturers across the US:
Intersil Silicones offers their IST668 Fluorosilicone Rubber, available in durometers 20-80 Shore A. In addition, its available through calendared rolls .010”-0.500” thick. Intersil IST668 Fluorosilicone Rubber Datasheet Download
Mil-Aero Specifications:
-MIL-R-25988, Grades 40-70, Type II, Class I
-AMS-DTL-25988, Grades 40-70 Type II, Class I
-AMS-3325, Fuel/Oil Resistant (55-65 durometer)
-AMS-3326, Fuel/Oil Resistant (50-65 durometer)
-AMS-3327, Fuel/Oil Resistant (70-80 durometer)
-AMS-3328, Fuel/Oil Resistant (35-45 durometer)
Fluorosilicone Sponge Rubber
Fluorosilicone is available as a closed cell sponge rubber. The closed-cell nature excludes intrusions by unwanted solvents/liquids such as fuel. As with most materials specifications are available. Fluorosilicone sponge comes in a few available densities, soft-medium, medium, medium-firm, and firm. This depends on what manufacturer the fluorosilicone sponge is procured from. This requires some pressure to get an adequate seal. In addition, fluorosilicone sponge extrusions are also available from other manufacturers.
Manufacturers Highlighted Below:
Saint Gobain Performance Plastics offering their CHR Norseal R10490 Fluorosilicone Sponge- available as continuous rolled product
Marsh Bellofram offering their 7748 Compound- available as sheets
Specifications:
-AMS-3323 Class 1, or 2 depending on the fluorosilicone sponge product
-MIL-R-6130 Type 2, Grade A, B, C (excluding flame resistance)
-ASTM D6576 Type 2, Grade A, B, C (excluding flame resistance)
Electrically Conductive Fluorosilicone Rubber
The MIL-DTL-83528 has a few fluorosilicone rubber offerings. These include Type D, Type F, Type C. Respectively, the fillers are silver/aluminum, pure silver, and silver-copper. Each Type provides different levels of shielding. The pairing of fluorosilicone, and an electrically conductive filler provides a solvent & jet fuel resistant gasketing solution that also solves EMI noise/issues. These materials are otherwise known as EMI gasketing materials.
Type D- Silver/Aluminum, 90 dB @ 10 GHz, 75 Durometer. Type D is the most frequently used EMI/RFI gasketing material when it comes to fluorosilicone EMI gaskets. Type D material is very often used in military connector gaskets.
Type F- Pure Silver, 110 dB @ 10 GHz, 75 Durometer
Type C- Silver/Copper, 110 dB @ GHz, 75 Durometer
patriot missile battery good app for fluorosilicone sponge
More Information on Fluorosilicone Rubber:
NEDC die-cuts, and waterjet-cuts fluorosilicone gaskets into custom shapes. These gaskets above are available with an adhesive tape backing for an assembly aid. For more information on fluorosilicone rubber products or you feel you have an application that may be able to utilize fluorosilicone, please contact sales@nedc.com.