The choice of elastomers in any equipment or process that uses heat transfer fluids is critical. This is mainly because elastomers can impact safety, reliability, and equipment/process integrity. Because there are many different fluid chemistries and elastomeric materials, the need for compatibility determinations always come up. We have come up with a summary that you will find helpful.  If you need additional professional advice, our Engineers are always available to help.

Elastomer

Operating Temperature Range

Compatibility

Nitrile Rubber/ Acrylonitrile-Butadiene (NBR)/ Buna N

  • Heat Resistance:  100°C
  • Cold Flexibility:  -57°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Not recommended for Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids

Teflon®/ Polytetrafluoroethylene /PTFE

  • Heat Resistance: 260°C
  • Cold Flexibility: -200°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber/Highly Saturated Nitrile Rubber (HNBR)

  • Heat Resistance: 150°C
  • Cold Flexibility: -35°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Not recommended for synthetic heat transfer fluids
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Neoprene/Chloroprene Rubber

  • Heat Resistance: 120°C
  • Cold Flexibility: -40°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Acceptable
  • Not recommended for synthetic heat transfer fluids
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Hypalon®

/Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene Rubber.

  • Heat Resistance :121°C
  • Cold Flexibility: -25°C
  • Not recommended for mineral-oil based heat transfer fluids and synthetic heat transfer fluids
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPDM)

  • Heat Resistance : 149°C
  • Cold Flexibility: -40°C
  • Not recommended for mineral-oil based heat transfer fluids
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Silicone Rubber/ vinyl-methyl-silicone (VMQ)

  • Heat Resistance: 200°C
  • Cold Flexibility : -55°C
  • Not recommended for mineral-oil based heat transfer fluids,  synthetic heat transfer fluids and Silicone Heat Transfer Fluids
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ)

  • Heat Resistance: 230°C
  • Cold Flexibility: -60°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Synthetic Heat Transfer Fluids – Acceptable
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Fluorocarbon (FKM/FPM)/ Viton®. 

  • Heat Resistance: 200°C
  • Cold Flexibility : -40°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Synthetic Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Aflas®/Tetrafluoroethelene propylene (TFE/P)

  • Heat Resistance : 300°C
  • Cold Flexibility :0°C
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Acceptable
  • Synthetic Heat Transfer Fluids – Not recommended
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent

Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM)

  • Heat Resistance: 327°
  • Mineral Oil-based Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Synthetic Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent
  • Silicone Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • PolyAlkylene Glycol Heat Transfer Fluid – Excellent
  • Glycol Heat Transfer Fluids – Excellent