Comparison of Different Gasket Materials

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Comparison of Different Gasket Materials

This blog post gives you a basic information about different types of gasket materials and its comparison. Additionally it covers pros and cons of all gasket materials.

Gasket Materials

Refer below table with all gasket materials.

Common NamesNatural RubberButylBuna N, Nitrile, NBRNeopreneSilicone
Trade NamesMirco – Compound No. 7033Butene – Compound No. AX-90560Oil Ace – Compound No. AX-41060Matchless – Compound No. AX-1060

Mirprene – Compound No. 1050

Thermoflex – Compound No. 2850R
ASTM D-2000 ClassificationAAAA, BABF, BG, BKBC, BEFC, FE, GE
Military (MIL STD 417)RNRSSBSCTA
Chemical DefinitionPolyisopreneIsobutylene IsopreneButadiene AcrylonitrileButadiene AcrylonitrilePolysiloxane
Durometer Range (Shore A)20-10040-9020-9520-9530-90
Tensile Range (P.S.I.)500-3500500-3000200-3000500-3000200-1500
Elongation (Max. %)700850600600700
Compression SetExcellentFair to GoodGoodGoodGood
Resilience ReboundExcellentFairGoodExcellentGood
Abrasion ResistanceExcellentFairExcellentExcellentFair to Poor
Tear ResistanceExcellentGoodGoodGoodPoor
Solvent ResistancePoorPoorGood to ExcellentFairPoor
Oil ResistancePoorPoorGood to ExcellentFairPoor
Low Temperature Usage (F°)-20° to -60°-10° to -60°+30° to -40°+10° to -50°-60° to -150°
High Temperature Usage (F°)to 175°to 115°to 250°to 250°To 450°
Aging WeatherSunlight PoorSunlight ExcellentSunlight PoorSunlight GoodSunlight Excellent
Adhesion to MetalsExcellentGoodGood to ExcellentGood to ExcellentGood
Common NamesFluorosiliconeHypalon   Fluoro ElastomersSBR. GRSPolysulfide
Trade NamesFluorosilicone – Compound No. WK-8870Chlorosol – Compound No. 19040Viton Fluorel Vi-Chem – Compound No. EV-9970Ironsides – Compound No. AX-20065Thiokol – Compound No. 23945
ASTM D-2000 ClassificationFKCEHKAA. BABK
Military (MIL STD 417)MIL-R-25988, Amend.2SCMIL-R-25897 and MIL-R-83248RSSA
Chemical DefinitionFluorosiliconeChlorosulfonated / polyethyleneFluorinated hydrocarbonStyrene ButadienePolysulfide
Durometer Range (Shore A)50-8045-10060-9030-10040-80
Tensile Range (P.S.I.)500-8001000-3000500-2000500-3000800-1200
Elongation (Max. %)300500300600300
Compression SetGoodFairGoodGoodPoor
Resilience ReboundExcellentFairFairGoodFair
Abrasion ResistancePoorExcellentGoodExcellentPoor
Tear ResistancePoorGoodGoodFairPoor
Solvent ResistanceFairFair to GoodExcellentPoorExcellent
Oil ResistanceGoodFair to GoodExcellentPoorExcellent
Low Temperature Usage (F°)-80°-30° to -60°+10° to -10°0° to -50°-65°
High Temperature Usage (F°)300°to 225°400° to 600° depending on time & service conditionsto 255°160°
Aging WeatherSunlight ExcellentSunlight ExcellentSunlight ExcellentSunlight PoorSunlight Good
Adhesion to MetalsPoorExcellentGoodExcellentPoor
Common NamesEPR, EPT, EPDMUrethane, Polyurethane
Trade NamesResist-0 (Nordel) – Compound No. AX-60660Polycast – Compound No. UR-2970
ASTM D-2000 ClassificationCABG
Military (MIL STD 417)RSSB
Chemical DefinitionEthylene PropylenePolyester/Polyether Urethane
Durometer Range (Shore A)30-9035-100
Tensile Range (P.S.I.)500-2500500-6000
Elongation (Max. %)600750
Compression SetGoodPoor
Resilience ReboundGoodGood
Abrasion ResistanceGoodExcellent
Tear ResistanceFairExcellent
Solvent ResistancePoorPoor
Oil ResistancePoorGood
Low Temperature Usage (F°)-20° to -60°-10° to -30°
High Temperature Usage (F°)to 350°to 175°
Aging WeatherSunlight ExcellentSunlight Excellent
Adhesion to MetalsFair to GoodFair to Good

Summary of Gasket Materials

Material Remark/Comments
Natural RubberNatural Rubber has many good characteristics. It has high resilience, good compression set, good roll building behaviour, and moulding properties; very good friction surface, but not a fine  smooth surface when ground; high tear strength, low crack growth; usable for ketones and alcohol; and good low temperature properties. Natural Rubber is not recommended for oil and  solvent resistance and ozone attacks it.
ButylButyl rubber is impermeable to most common gases and has good resistance to sunlight and  ozone. Butyl is normally satisfactory when exposed to animal and vegetable oils and oxidizing chemicals. Butyl is not recommended for use with petroleum solvent, coal tar and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Buna N, Nitrile, NBRNitrile (Buna-N) is a general purpose oil resistant polymer which has good solvent, oil, water and hydraulic fluid resistance, good compression set, abrasion resistance and tensile strength.  Nitrile should not be used in highly polar solvents such as acetone, and MEK, ozone, chlorinated hydrocarbons and nitro hydrocarbons.
NeopreneNeoprene is an all purpose polymer with many desirable characteristics. It has additional plus  features: high resilience with low compression set: Flame resistant; compounds free of sulphur are easily made; and animal and vegetable oil resistant generally not affected by moderate  chemicals, fats greases and many oils and solvents. Neoprene is generally attacked by strong oxidizing acids, esters, ketones, chlorinated aromatic and nitro hydrocarbons.
Silicone RubberSilicone Rubber can be compounded to meet any number of appls. Silicone can be compounded to have tensile in the area of 1500 PSI and tear up  to 200 lbs. low compression set and geed resilience; moderate solvent resistance; excellent heat resistance; good release characteristics; extreme low temperature properties; and can be  highly resistant to oxidation and ozone attack. Silicone is generally attacked by most concentrated solvents, oils, concentrated acids and dilute sodium hydroxide.
FluorosiliconeFluorosilicone is considerably more expensive than silicone, however it is developed for special  applications where general resistance to oxidizing chemicals, aromatic and chlorinated solvent bases is required. Fluorosilicone is not recommended and is generally attacked when exposed  to brake fluids, hydrazine and ketones. Fluorosilicone should not be confused with silicone in regard to high heat resistance.
HypalonHypalon  has very good resistance to oxidation and ozone, as well as good flame resistance; it is similar to neoprene except with improved acid resistance; abrasion resistance is  excellent, about the equivalent of nitrile, low friction surface; and oil and solvent resistance about intermediate between neoprene and nitrile. Hypalon   is not recommended for immersion in water, exposure to concentrated oxidizing acids, esters, ketones, chlorinated, aromatic and nitro hydrocarbons.
Fluoro ElastomersFluoro Elastomers have heat resistance up to 600°, and resistance to a wide range of oils and  solvents; especially all aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, acids, animal and vegetable oils. Vi-Chem is not recommended for ketones, low molecular weight esters and nitro containing compounds
SBR. GRSSBR is a low cost non-oil resistant material. It has good water resistance and resilience up to 70 durometer; compression set becomes poorer with higher durometer; generally satisfactory  for most moderate chemicals and wet or dry organic acids. SBR is not recommended for ozone, strong acids, oils, greases, fats and most hydrocarbons.
PolysulfidePolysulfide is generally resistant to most ozone, oils, solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketones and thinners. Polysulfide is not recommended for service where it is exposed to mercaptans, chlorinated hydrocarbons, nitro hydrocarbons, esters, amines and heterocyclics.
EPR, EPT, EPDMEthylene Propylene is a polymer with outstanding properties. It has exceptionally good weather aging and ozone resistance; excellent water and chemical resistance; excellent resistance to gas permeability, and excellent resistance to aging due to exposure to steam; and heat resistance excellent up to 350° F. Ethylene Propylene is a polymer where oil and solvent resistance is poor, however, it is fairly good in ketones and alcohols. It is not recommended for food applications or exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons.
Urethane, PolyurethaneThe Castable Types have excellent abrasion resistance; good compression set at high hardness levels; low friction surface; tensile strengths up to 6000 PSI. Good ozone resistance; good oil and solvent resistance; and poor heat and hot water resistance. The Millable Types of Polyurethanes are in wide use today. Through the us of reinforcing pigments and other chemicals, desirable characteristics can be obtained to fit a variety of applications; wear resistance is excellent and greatly superior to most other polymers; the surface si of low friction nature; oil resistance is good and equivalent to the better nitriles but is not recommended for use in water or heat above 175° F; plus good ozone resistance and low rebound characteristics. Urethane is not normally attacked by moderate chemicals and hydrocarbons. It isby concentrated acids, ketones, esters, chlorinated and nitro hydrocarbons .