A Guide To Elastomer Properties

INVESTORS
ABOUT US
PRODUCT LINES
CAREERS
INDUSTRIES SERVED
Home > All Products & Services Categories > Plastics, Polymers & Resins > Elastomers > A Guide to
MEDIA CENTER
PRODUCT FINDER
India, English - Change
Search
SHARE
Elastomer Properties
A Guide to Elastomer Properties
CONTACT US
RELATED ARTICLES
Chemical Resistant Elastomers

Heat Resistant Elastomers
High Performance Polymers
Supporting Sustainable
Mobility
Kalrez Parts Heat Resistance
A Quick Guide to Elastomer Properties and Applications
ADDITIONAL LINKS
The DuPont polymer portfolio spans a range of materials with elastomer properties, and offers
effective, and reliable solutions for a range of applications.
Kalrez Parts
Elastomers were created as an alternative to natural rubber, and have expanded to include
materials from thermoset rubber polymers used in the general rubber industry to highperformance fluoroelastomers for demanding chemical and automotive applications.
Viton Fluoroelastomer
Convert webpages to pdf online with PDFmyURL
performance fluoroelastomers for demanding chemical and automotive applications.
Vamac Synthetic
Focus on the Properties that Matter Most
Elastomer
Typically, DuPont elastomers are selected for important performance qualities, whether the
need is sealing, flexibility, durability or reliability. We provide specialized materials for use with
AutoFocus Newsletter
aggressive chemicals and high temperatures, as well as for strength and flexibility, to replace
metals in a range of industrial uses.
Elastomers Product Map

VIEW MEDIA
Elastomer properties include resilience some

elastomeric materials can be stretched repeatedly to twice
their length and return to their original shape. They
provide flexibility from their polymer composition, above
glass transition temperature (Tg) for end-use
requirements, and dont melt in high temperatures. As a
result, elastomers are used in a myriad of products, from
hoses and cables to adhesives and clothing.
How Elastomers are Made
Elastomer rubber compounds are made from five to ten ingredients, each ingredient playing a
specific role. Polymer is the main component, and determines heat and chemical resistance, as
well as low- temperature performance. Reinforcing filler is used, typically carbon black, for
strength properties. A plasticizer is used to improve low- temperature properties. Other
ingredients include anti-oxidants, a release package, a scorch retarder, a curative, and an
accelerator. Hundreds of compounds can be made from one base polymer.
A baking analogy is a good way to describe the process of making elastomer compounds.
Polymer is the flour, curative is the egg, plasticizer and release package are the butter, and the
blowing agent is the baking powder. These ingredients are mixed and then molds are filled, all
at a low temperature, to avoid scorch. Then, the mixture sets by curing, the oven, to achieve
the right balance of properties.
Curing is Critical
Curing is done at a high temperature, and helps create long-chain polymers connected by
Sign Up!
crosslinks. These crosslinks create an elastic nature and provide recovery characteristics to the
finished material. Theyre also stable under heat and pressure. Elastomer properties, and
performance grades, are the end result of both the materials and curing steps used allowing
DuPont to develop elastomers with properties that can help meet highly specific application
requirements.
Three performance grades
Broad performance grades range from the most basic to high performance. Its essential to
choose the right grade. Over-specifying can lead to paying for more performance than an
application requires. But underspecifying can also be costly, if it leads to a less-than-ideal
product or manufacturing process.
Acrylic/Ethylene Copolymer (AEM)
Good oil, fuel and ozone resistance
High performance
Fluoroelastomers (FKM)
Heat resistance greater than 200C
Very good chemical resistance
Very high performance
Perfluoroelastomers (FFKM)
Excellent thermal and chemical resistance
Tg of about 0C
Highest performance
DuPont Elastomer Product Overview
DuPont has developed a portfolio to elastomers that can help deliver reliable solutions for a
wide range of applications. Starting with Neoprene, the category leader invented by DuPont
over 75 years ago, to Viton a high performer that has been demonstrated to perform under
extreme conditions, there are DuPont elastomers for numerous engineering challenges.
Neoprene CR Polychloroprene
Properties oil-resistant rubber with major chemical resistance, compared with natural
rubber.
Monomer and polymer
Applications many uses in automotive, industrial and construction.
DuPont Vamac ethylene acrylic elastomer
Properties good heat resistance up to 175C, low-temperature properties, good resistance
to engine oil and ATF, good comp set.
Ethylene Methyl Acrylate copolymer with cure site monomer
Applications almost entirely automotive.
DuPont Viton FKM Elastomer
Properties high-performance elastomer with good heat and
chemical resistance.
Heat resistance in air, 100 hours at 200C, and up to 260C
Low permeation for gasoline and other fuels.
Longer seal life and resistance to aggressive chemicals.
Applications automotive, aerospace, chemical and
hydrocarbon processing.
DuPont Kalrez FFKM Elastomer
Properties highest-performing elastomer with excellent heat and chemical resistance.
DuPont manufactures finished parts.
Heat resistance up to 327C.
Very low volume swell in aggressive chemicals and plasmas.
Long seal life for low operating costs.
Applications Chemical and hydrocarbon processing, semiconductor manufacturing,
aerospace engines, FDA-compliant food, pharmaceuticals and beverages.
Processing Quality In
Elastomers can be processed in several ways, depending on the compound and the desired
outcome. Injection molding uses high pressure to force the rubber compound through runners
and into the mold. Another molding technique is compression. This process can handle veryhigh-viscosity compounds. Initially, the compound is processed into a pre-form; then, the preform is put into a mold and cured. Parts made from Viton and Vamac are typically post-cured
after compression molding.
Extrusion is used for hoses, tubes, wire and cable. The key is to avoid a curing reaction during
the extrusion. Hoses and tubes are typically cured in a steam autoclave, using a patch process,
then placed on a formed mandrel to achieve the required shape.
DuPont Material Scientists are Elastomers Experts
DuPont has played a significant and important role in inventing elastomers, and we have
unparalleled history and expertise in this category. DuPont has manufacturing and fabricating
facilities in Asia, the Americas and Europe, as well as local experts in over 65 countries,
accessible through our 11 global innovation centers. We are uniquely positioned to help you in
your specification, formulation, compounding and processing elastomers for successful
outcomes.
LINKS:
Contact DuPont (Elastomers)
OUR COMPANY
MEDIA CENTER
| For the Media
CONTACT
| Elastomer Manufacturing Quality Documents
GLOBAL LOCATIONS
CAREERS
INVESTORS
MSDS FINDER
CONNECT WITH DUPONT:

Legal Notices & Terms of Use | Privacy | Site Map
Copyright 2016 DuPont. All rights reserved. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont, The miracles of science and all products denoted with or are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du
Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

A Guide To Elastomer Properties

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Guide To Elastomer Properties

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Guide To Elastomer Properties

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INVESTORS

India, English - Change

A Guide to Elastomer Properties

Chemical Resistant Elastomers

A Quick Guide to Elastomer Properties and Applications

Convert webpages to pdf online with PDFmyURL

performance fluoroelastomers for demanding chemical and automotive applications.

Focus on the Properties that Matter Most

Elastomers Product Map

Elastomer properties include resilience some

Contact DuPont (Elastomers)

| For the Media

| Elastomer Manufacturing Quality Documents

CONNECT WITH DUPONT:

Convert webpages to pdf online with PDFmyURL

You might also like