Material Comparison
Compare verified engineering materials side by side with condition-specific mechanical properties.
| Parameter | Fluoroelastomer (FKM) | Silicone Rubber (VMQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Material Family | Rubber & Elastomers | Rubber & Elastomers |
| Subfamily | High-Temperature & Specialty Elastomers | High-Temperature & Specialty Elastomers |
| ASTM Designation | FKM | VMQ |
| ISO Designation | FPM | VMQ |
| ASTM-D2000 Designation | Type HK | Type FC / FE / GE |
| Element | Fluoroelastomer (FKM) | Silicone Rubber (VMQ) |
|---|
| Mechanical Parameter | Fluoroelastomer (FKM)Standard Bisphenol-Cured Compound (Post-Cured 16h at 230°C) | Silicone Rubber (VMQ)Platinum-Cured Liquid Silicone Rubber (Post-Cured 4h at 200°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Compression Set (22h at 150°C) · Platinum-Cured Liquid Silicone Rubber (Post-Cured 4h at 200°C) · RANGE · 150 °CUnit: % | — % | 10–25 % |
Machinability: Cryogenically deflashed with liquid nitrogen; turned on CNC lathes equipped with diamond-sharp carbide cutters.
Formability / Cold Working: Milled on cool water-chilled roll mills; compounded with mineral fillers and basic metal oxides (Ca(OH)₂ and MgO) as acid acceptors. Compression, transfer, and injection molded; extruded into chemical tubing.
Heat Treatment & Annealing: Bisphenol cure (standard Type 1) or peroxide cure (for aggressive sour gas/acid resistance). Mandatory oven post-cure at 230°C for 16 to 24 hours to complete crosslinking and achieve minimum compression set.
Machinability: Waterjet cutting and precision rotary die cutting; cryogenic machining used for custom surgical prototypes.
Formability / Cold Working: High-consistency rubber (HCR) is milled and molded via compression, transfer, and extrusion; liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is processed via two-component high-speed meter-mix liquid injection molding.
Heat Treatment & Annealing: Vulcanized via organic peroxide catalysts (for HCR) or platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation addition cure (for LSR). Post-curing at 200°C for 2 to 4 hours is mandatory to volatilize cyclic siloxanes and optimize compression set.