UK Industry Leader
Of cellular solutions
Global Accreditation
IATF16949 & ISO14001
Experience of
Over 50 years
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UK Industry Leader
Of cellular solutions
Global Accreditation
IATF16949 & ISO14001
Experience of
Over 50 years
Since its development in the 1950s, Viton rubber has been renowned for its excellent resistance against a whole host of factors, making it a widely utilised rubber solution across various industries and for numerous applications.
But to understand why it has been a go-to rubber for the past seven decades, we should explore what exactly Viton rubber is, why it’s beneficial, and the applications it’s best used for. So, read on to better understand Viton rubber before learning how it can benefit your sealing or manufacturing requirements.
Otherwise known as Viton Fluoroelastomer Rubber, Viton rubber is a synthetic with four distinct categories. These four grades of Viton rubber are A, B, F, and Speciality Types. We can define all these categories by their fluorine content. Fluorine is a pale gas that is the most reactive of the chemical elements. Because of its high toxicity and electronegative reactivity, the higher the fluorine level in Viton rubber, the higher its chemical resistance.
Viton rubber has been an irreplaceable material across an array of industries due to its unique properties. The most beneficial properties of Viton rubber are:
Viton rubber can withstand temperatures from as low as -25°C all the way up to 275°C without losing its shape or structural integrity.
Viton is incredibly resistant to chemicals, corrosive elements, oils and more. Whenever put in contact with such substances, Viton can retain its stability more than most other materials.
As well as its ability to endure strong chemicals, Viton rubber can also withstand harsh environmental conditions. Such conditions include high altitudes, intense UV rays, extreme moisture and more.
Viton has high elasticity and impressive tensile strength, meaning it can maintain its integrity and shape under pressure and stretching.
Viton rubber is well equipped to resist tearing, with exposure to sharp edges and rough materials without ripping.
Viton can provide airtight sealing against a wide range of substances, including air, water, dust, and chemicals.
Viton has very low gas permeability, meaning it can limit the transfer of gases that might alter its shape or strength.
As you can see, the benefits of Viton rubber are vast. Its range of powerful properties makes it applicable to multiple industries across numerous applications and against challenging environments. Thanks to its variety of benefits, Viton rubber accommodates many industrial uses:
Firstly, Viton rubber is applied frequently in the aerospace sphere. Its impressive temperature range makes it incredibly suitable for sealing aircraft, satellites and spacecraft applications. The rubber’s fuel and chemical resistance also make Viton invaluable to aerospace technology.
The automotive industry also relies heavily on the use of Viton rubber. Viton rubber gaskets and Viton rubber O-rings are widely utilised for sealing automotive components such as fuel pumps, engines, and exhaust systems. Viton’s resistance to chemicals and intense sealing properties make it the perfect material for this industry.
Due to its strong chemical resistance, Viton rubber is applied throughout the chemical industry. The Fluoroelastomer is used for seals in chemical processing equipment, alongside linings for chemical transfer equipment. Almost all industries utilise Viton rubber in one way or another thanks to its versatility and reliability.
When choosing a rubber material for your intended use, you must consider the pros and cons of each elastomer. Although Viton rubber has many advantages, there are other options you should consider.
PTFE (or polytetrafluoroethylene) is a synthetic fluoropolymer commonly used for electric wire insulation, pipework for corrosive chemicals, aerospace applications and more. We have established that Viton has exceptional chemical resistance, but PTFE has an even better capacity for chemical resistance. However, Viton’s temperature resistance is unmatched by that of PTFE.
Therefore, if your project requires prolonged exposure to chemicals, PTFE will likely be the better option. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a material that can withstand a wide range of temperatures, Viton will still be your number one choice.
Silicone is a general-purpose rubber that benefits from great flexibility and durability. Viton and Silicone have a pretty similar temperature resistance, but Silicone doesn’t come close to matching Viton’s exceptional chemical resistance.
Whether you choose Silicone or Viton for your project should depend on its intended environment. In general, Silicone is better for kitchenware, electronics, and medical devices, and Viton is the better choice for the automotive industry and chemical processing.
Similarly to Viton, nitrile is a material regularly applied in the automotive, oil and gas sectors.
Nitrile has superb chemical resistance against fuels and oils and is more cost-effective than Viton, although nitrile struggles to withstand as many harsh chemicals. Viton has a far higher temperature resistance than nitrile too.
Therefore, if you intend to use the material predominantly in the presence of petroleum-based liquids, nitrile rubber may be the better and more affordable choice. Then again, if you need a material that can withstand extreme temperatures and harsher chemicals, Viton is your best bet.
Fluorocarbon rubber (or FKM) and Viton are essentially the same thing. Viton is a branded type of Fluorocarbon rubber developed by DuPont (now Chemours) in the 1950s.
Viton is the most commonly used and highly recognised manufacturer of FKM, but it doesn’t stand alone. Other manufacturers of FKM rubbers include Fluorel, Technoflon, Dyneon, and Dai-El.
Deemed the top choice for most industrial applications, Viton is the superior type of FKM. However, if you don’t necessarily need the very best quality, other FKM manufacturers can provide you with more cost-effective alternatives to Viton.
Viton rubber pads can provide the ultimate material for businesses with applications that require sealing against chemicals and gases, especially in the oil and gas industry. Here at Ramsay, we offer custom Viton pads that vary in size, shape, thickness and density. This solution means that no matter your requirements, we have the ideal Viton pads to suit your needs.
To learn more about our Viton rubber pads and assembly services, reach out to our team of experts today and receive a free quote.
Please feel free to get in touch, to speak with one of our team of experts or simply fill out our online contact form below. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Ramsay Rubber & Plastics Limited
Vulcan Road, Bilston
West Midlands WV14 7HT
T +44 (0) 1902 407150
F +44 (0) 1902 407160
