FKM (Viton®) vs Silicone for O-Rings and Seals

Description

Both materials are well suited for use in the -30 to 205°C range. Silicone has an advantage in lower temperatures and Silicone has an advantage in higher temperatures. Marco offers specific compound formulations extending these ranges even futher as can be seen in the following compound comparison chart. When comparing these materials with respect to electrical current resistance, Silicone has a slight advantage. The differences in compression set resistence show that both materials are equally poor. Additionally, both materials are equally poor when considering wear resistance. Also, both materials are equally poor when comparing heat stability. Furthermore, FKM has a slight advantage when comparing short term resilience. Finally, FKM has a significant advantage when evaluating differences in permeation resilience. Both materials are resistant to ozone, compression set, vegetable oils, greases, silicone oils and brake fluids, with FKM having specific resistences to steam, solvents, broad spectrum chemical resistance, common fuels, mineral oils, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, non-flammable hydraulic fluids, aging, strong acids, petroleum oils, acetone, halogenated hydrocarbons, di-ester lubricants, vacuum and most acids. Silicone has specific resistence to weathering and sunlight, animal oils, oxygen, fungal growth, ketones, dry heat, wide temperature range, non-toxic and odorless.