FFKM O-Rings: The perfect seal for extreme conditions
In extreme application environments, where the margins for error are narrow and the safety of personnel and machinery are often at risk, failure simply isn’t an option. Such conditions demand failsafe solutions and this where FFKM O-rings and FFKM gaskets excel, delivering effective, reliable and durable sealing solutions that you can depend on time and again.
The challenges of extreme conditions
Some application environments are more challenging than others. Oil and gas applications instantly spring to mind, with temperature extremes and combustible fuels encountered on a daily basis. The aviation and motorsport industries (including F1) face similar hurdles, while the nuclear and chemical processing sectors face even greater dangers with the handling of volatile and hazardous materials that must be treated with the utmost care and attention.
One false move, or failure of even the smallest component, could be catastrophic.
Even down to a single O-ring, as was the case with the Challenger Disaster of 1986 when NASA’s ill-fated Challenger orbiter exploded moments after launch. It later emerged that an O-ring, which formed the seal between sections of the solid rocket boosters and had lost its elasticity and sealing abilities due to the unusually cold launch conditions, was the root cause of this tragic event.
High-performance FFKM O-rings and FFKM gaskets
The point is that even the most innocuous-seeming parts, like O-rings and gaskets, must be designed for purpose. This is where TRP Polymer Solutions can give you an advantage. Our meticulous processes, from design through to full-scale production, leave no stone unturned to ensure your seal is engineered to the highest standards. Our rigorous material selection, testing and prototyping ensures a reliable solution is guaranteed.
No application environment is too extreme. Certainly not when it comes to our high-performance FFKM O-rings and FFKM gaskets. Perfluoroelastomers (FFKM) deliver some of the most impressive levels of chemical and thermal resistance of any commercial elastomers on the market today. That means that our experts can select an FFKM seal material that delivers optimal sealing performance, no matter how challenging your application conditions.
Why choose an FFKM seal material?
So what makes FFKM seal materials so special? To answer that question, we must first look at the fundamental chemical properties that give perfluoroelastomers their unique characteristics. In essence, perfluoroelastomers are the elastomeric form of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). At their core are super-strong carbon-fluorine bonds that give the FFKM family of materials their unparalleled chemical and thermal resistance.
Maximal levels of fluorination ramp up the chemical resistance further still, while their R-O-R ether group is what gives FFKM materials their elasticity. TRP Polymer Solutions develops grades of FFKM that resist more than 1,800 chemicals and perform optimally in temperatures from as low as -45°C to as high as +330°C. These FFKM seal materials enable us to produce some of the toughest FFKM O-rings and seals available.
TRPlast FFKM O-rings from TRP Polymer Solutions
At TRP Polymer Solutions, our mission is to extract the maximum performance from every FFKM seal material that we use to formulate your sealing product. In the pursuit of excellence, we developed our own unique range of TRPlast FFKM seal materials to ensure we could deliver the best performing FFKM O-rings and FFKM gaskets available. As a result, we have developed some of the most formidable grades of FFKM on the market today.
For example, our TRPlast 260B FFKM seal material combines the broadest chemical resistance available with outstanding physical properties. This black 75 IRHD perfluoroelastomer creates an excellent chemical resistant seal for temperatures up to +260°C (+500°F). Meanwhile, our TRPlast 300B FFKM seal material is suitable for use with hot water, steam and amines at a maximum recommended operating temperature of +300°C (+572°F).
Our FFKM O-rings and gaskets are produced under the strictest process control conditions. With full traceability from raw materials to finished goods, you can be sure you’re buying the best quality perfluoroelastomer products when you purchase from TRP Polymer Solutions. With well over 25 years of manufacturing experience, TRP Polymer Solutions provides high-quality FFKM seals, no matter how extreme the application environment.
Contact TRP Polymer Solutions today
TRPlast FFKM O-rings are available to most standard sizes (AS-568A, BS1806 , BS ISO 3601-1, BS ISO 3601-2) and are supported by an extensive range of non-standard tooling. We also offer rapid delivery, supporting you and your business wherever lead times are critical. For existing tooling, we can deliver your FFKM seals within 4-5 working days, while new tooling may take up to seven days (depending on the size and scope of the product).
Our processes are equipped to support all volumes. Whether you require a single FFKM gasket or high volumes of all-purpose FFKM O-rings, TRP Polymer Solutions can deliver to your exact specifications. Our manufacturing processes are also supported by consignment stock and Kanban deliveries. So, for the perfect seals for extreme conditions, look no further than TRPlast FFKM O-rings and gaskets from TRP Polymer Solutions.
For more information about our high-performance FFKM O-rings and FFKM gaskets, please contact us today by calling 01432 268899 or email the team directly at sales@trp.co.uk.
