Chemical Resistance Chart: A Guide to Polar vs. Non-Polar Solvents.

Chemical Resistance Chart: A Guide to Polar vs. Non-Polar Solvents

Problem Statement

Rubber components in industrial applications often fail due to chemical degradation when exposed to polar solvents (e.g., acetone, methanol) or non-polar solvents (e.g., hexane, toluene). This degradation leads to swelling, loss of mechanical properties, and premature failure.

Material Science Analysis

Polar solvents interact strongly with polar polymers like NBR, causing swelling and weakening hydrogen bonds. Non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar polymers like EPDM, disrupting van der Waals forces. FKM excels in both environments due to its high fluorine content, which provides chemical inertness and resistance to a wide range of solvents.

Technical Specs

• FKM: Shore A Hardness 70-90, Tensile Strength 15-20 MPa, Elongation at Break 150-250%, Temperature Range -20°C to 250°C.
• NBR: Shore A Hardness 50-90, Tensile Strength 10-20 MPa, Elongation at Break 200-400%, Temperature Range -40°C to 120°C.
• EPDM: Shore A Hardness 40-90, Tensile Strength 10-15 MPa, Elongation at Break 300-600%, Temperature Range -50°C to 150°C.

Technical Comparison Table

Material	Chemical Resistance (Polar Solvents)	Chemical Resistance (Non-Polar Solvents)	Compression Set (%)	Temperature Range (°C)
FKM	Excellent	Excellent	10-20	-20 to 250
NBR	Good	Poor	20-40	-40 to 120
EPDM	Poor	Good	15-30	-50 to 150

Standard Compliance

RubberQ adheres to IATF 16949 standards, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in material properties. Our compounding process meets ASTM D2000 material callouts, and we perform ISO 3601 testing for sealing performance and ASTM D429 for rubber-to-metal adhesion.

For custom material compound development or IATF 16949 documentation, consult RubberQ's engineering department.