What Are Viton® (FKM) Seals Used For?

In applications where sealing performance is critical, the material selection of the seal becomes just as important as its design. FKM (and the popular FKM brand, Viton®) O-rings are among the most widely specified elastomer seals for demanding industrial applications, as they offer an excellent combination of chemical resistance, temperature stability, and long-term durability.

FKM (fluoroelastomer) materials are designed to perform in environments where standard elastomers may struggle, particularly when exposed to aggressive chemicals, fuels, oils, and elevated temperatures. As a result, Viton® O-rings are commonly found in industries where reliability, safety, and operational uptime are essential.

In this article, TRP Polymer Solutions explores some of the most common and demanding applications for Viton® (FKM) O-rings across a vast range of sectors.

What are Viton® seals

Viton® is the brand name under which Chemours market their FKM material, which is a synthetic fluoroelastomer known for its excellent resistance to extreme heat, chemicals, and fuels. Viton® seals are commonly used in demanding industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications where standard rubber would quickly degrade.

Viton® performs well in extreme temperatures and maintains its flexibility and sealing ability even when exposed to harsh substances. As a result of this durability, Viton® seals are often used in equipment such as pumps, engines and fuel systems, where long-term reliability and resistance to wear are essential, as discussed in further depth below.

Why choose Viton® (FKM) O-rings?

Before exploring its specific applications, it is worth fully understanding why FKM and Viton® have become preferred sealing materials for engineers worldwide. They have many beneficial properties that make them particularly valuable in applications where seal failure can result in costly downtime, safety risks, or product contamination. In particular, these include:

• Excellent resistance to oils, fuels, and hydrocarbons
• Broad chemical compatibility
• Continuous operating temperatures up to 200°C, with higher temperatures for shorter periods, depending on the grade
• Excellent resistance to ozone, weathering, and ageing
• Low compression set for improved sealing performance
• Long service life in challenging operating environments

What are Viton® (FKM) O-rings used for?

The above qualities mean that Viton® is commonly utilised across many different applications as a material that is just as versatile as it is useful. Some of the most common industries that demonstrate its impressive capabilities include the following:

Chemical processing industry

The chemical processing sector presents some of the most challenging environments for elastomer seals. In processing environments, seals are frequently exposed to aggressive chemicals, solvents, acids and especially high process temperatures, all of which can rapidly degrade unsuitable sealing materials.

As such, Viton® O-rings are commonly used in chemical processing applications for:

• Chemical transfer pumps
• Process valves
• Dosing and metering equipment
• Pipework and flange assemblies
• Reactors and processing vessels
• Sampling systems

In these applications, maintaining chemical compatibility is essential. A seal that swells or deteriorates can lead to leakage, contamination, environmental incidents, and unexpected production stoppages.

As a result, FKM materials are widely specified for their resistance to a broad range of industrial chemicals while retaining their mechanical properties over long operating periods. Their combination of durability and reliability helps to reduce maintenance requirements and maximise uptime for many chemical processing facilities.

Motorsport and Formula 1 applications

Motorsport environments push every component to its limits, and seals are no exception to this. Formula 1 and other high-performance racing categories demand motorsport seals capable of operating under extreme temperatures, pressures, and rapid thermal cycling.

To meet these intense demands, Viton® O-rings are frequently used in motorsport systems, such as:

• Fuel delivery systems
• Oil circulation systems
• Turbocharger assemblies
• Hydraulic systems
• Gearbox components
• High-performance engine systems

Modern racing engines operate at temperatures and pressures far beyond those experienced in typical road vehicles. Their seals need to maintain their integrity even in spite of their constant exposure to fuels, lubricants, and heat.

In motorsport, even a minor leak can have significant consequences and potentially lead to reduced performance, component failure, or race retirement. The ability of FKM materials and Viton® to withstand aggressive fluids and elevated temperatures make them a trusted choice in high-performance engineering environments.

Oil and gas applications

The oil and gas sector demands sealing solutions that are capable of withstanding some of the harshest operating environments in industry. Equipment is often exposed to hydrocarbons, fuels, lubricants, high pressures, and elevated temperatures for extended periods in applications such as:

• Valves
• Pumps
• Compressors
• Instrumentation systems
• Hydraulic control equipment
• Refinery and processing plant infrastructure

The integrity of seals for the oil and gas sector is vital in maintaining operational safety and efficiency, as their failure can result in environmental incidents, production losses, equipment damage, and costly unplanned shutdowns.

Viton® O-rings are often selected for oil and gas applications because of their excellent resistance to petroleum-based products and their ability to maintain performance under demanding operating conditions. Their durability also helps to reduce maintenance intervals and ensure long-term equipment reliability.

As with any sealing application, material suitability should always be assessed against the specific chemicals, temperatures, and pressures involved (such as with our chemical resistance guide). However, FKM remains one of the most commonly specified elastomers throughout the oil and gas industry due to its proven performance in hydrocarbon-rich environments.

Aerospace applications

Few industries place greater demands on sealing materials than aerospace. Components must operate reliably across a wide range of temperatures and pressures while maintaining performance over long service intervals.

For this reason, Viton® O-rings are commonly used for aerospace applications, such as:

• Aircraft fuel systems
• Hydraulic systems
• Engine assemblies
• Fluid transfer systems
• Environmental control systems
• Actuation and control equipment

Aerospace seals can be exposed to aviation fuels, hydraulic fluids and significant temperature fluctuations throughout their service life. Therefore, maintaining a secure seal under these conditions is essential for both performance and safety.

Viton®/FKM materials offer several advantages that make them well-suited to aerospace applications, including excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, and low compression set characteristics. These properties help to ensure consistent sealing performance, even in demanding operating environments.

Why FKM remains a preferred choice

Viton® and similar FKM materials continue to be specified across a wide range of industries because they provide a balance of properties that few alternatives can match. Across the above-mentioned industries and many more, the same performance requirements for sealing material consistently arise, being:

• Resistance to aggressive chemicals and fluids
• High-temperature capability
• Long-term durability
• Reliable sealing performance
• Reduced maintenance requirements

When equipment operates in demanding environments, selecting the correct sealing material can significantly influence operational reliability and total lifecycle costs, which often can be a reliable FKM.

Dependable Viton® and FKM materials at TRP Polymer Solutions

At TRP Polymer Solutions, we understand that every application presents unique challenges. Selecting the correct elastomer involves far more than simply matching an O-ring size; factors such as chemical exposure, temperature range, pressure conditions and regulatory requirements must all be considered.

Our team works closely with customers across a wide range of industries to identify rubber materials that deliver optimum performance and service life in demanding environments. Whatever your application requires, we can help you select the most appropriate sealing solution for custom rubber seals that won’t let you down.

Contact TRP Polymer Solutions today to discuss your application with our technical team and discover how our elastomer materials can keep your application running reliably and seamlessly.