Oil Seal Materials

For detailed information, feel free to check our website for more information.

Oil Seal Compounds

Oil seals are composed of a variety of materials, each offering different levels of resilience depending on specific conditions. The most commonly utilized materials in oil seals include Buna (Nitrile) and Viton®.

Buna (Nitrile)

Buna (Nitrile) oil seals are the most prevalent elastomer used in sealing applications. They have excellent resistance to petroleum oils and fuels, mineral oils and greases, hydraulic fluids, water, steam, and alcohol. Nitrile possesses exceptional characteristics such as a low compression set, high tensile strength, and high abrasion resistance.

Viton®

Viton® oil seals are known for their high temperature and chemical resistance. They effectively withstand petroleum oils and fuels, mineral oils and greases, solvents, hydraulic fluids, water, and steam. Their low compression set attributes make Viton® a favorable choice for chemical exposure scenarios and hard vacuum conditions.

Silicone

Silicone oil seals showcase a high lubricant absorbency that helps minimize friction and wear. They are resistant to various substances, including mineral and vegetable oils, saline solutions, and diverse environmental factors. Consequently, silicone is often employed in the food and beverage industry, as well as in medical and pharmaceutical applications.

EPDM

EPDM oil seals are suitable for use with a variety of substances such as alcohol, water, greases, and more extreme environmental conditions. They excel in resisting organic and inorganic acids, sodium and potassium alkalis, as well as water, steam, and cleaning agents.

HNBR

HNBR oil seals provide outstanding resistance to petroleum oils and sour gas. Compared to standard nitrile materials, HNBR has a broader temperature range and enhanced abrasion resistance in chemical environments.

Teflon®

Teflon® oil seals are renowned for their toughness and chemical inertness, demonstrating excellent resistance to a range of substances such as petroleum oils and fuels, solvents, and challenging environmental conditions. Teflon® seals are particularly effective in static and slow, intermittent dynamic applications.

Polyacrylate

Polyacrylate oil seals offer superior heat resistance compared to nitrile. These seals effectively resist petroleum oils and fuels, transmission fluids, and perform admirably in varied environmental scenarios. Polyacrylate is particularly well-suited for high surface speed applications.

Oil Seal Compound Chemical Compatibility

The longevity and performance of an oil seal are influenced by the elastomer's resistance to temperature, abrasion, chemicals, weather, sunlight, and ozone. The primary materials used are Nitrile and Viton. Below is a brief overview of the chemical compatibilities for various oil seal materials:

Material Selection Chart for Oil Seals

Tip: Materials Chart for Oil Seals

Some of the most common materials used for oil seals are nitrile, highly saturated nitrile, Viton®, FEP, silicone, and polyacrylate.

Materials & Temperature

Applications

Use With These Fluids

Simriz® -10 C to +305 C Compound Specific
Simriz® oil seals boast the broadest chemical resistance of any elastomeric material, benefiting from the properties of elastomers and achieving chemical resistance comparable to FEP.

Aflas® -10 C to +204 C Compound Specific
This unique fluoroelastomer is resistant to petroleum oils, steam, and hydrogen sulfide, making it ideal for highly specific applications.

Carboxylated Nitrile -54°C to 135°C
Designed for extreme conditions, nitrile oil seals are known for low-temperature tolerance and abrasion resistance.

FKM Fluorocarbon -40 C to +204 C Compound Specific
These seals provide excellent resistance to petroleum products and solvents and are suitable for a range of chemical exposures.

Fluorosilicone -56°C to 204°C
Combining silicone's thermal stability with fluorocarbon's resistance, these oil seals withstand petroleum oils and gasoline.

Highly Saturated Nitrile (HSN, HNBR) -26°C to 160°C
Preferred in oil patch applications, these seals are recognized for their resistance to petroleum oils and sour gas.

Nitrile (Buna-N) -40°C to 135°C
The industry's most commonly used elastomer, it offers a reliable balance between performance and cost.

Polyurethane -40°C to 105°C
Known for high abrasion resistance, these seals can operate in high-pressure hydraulic systems.

FEP -20°C to 204°C
Although excellent for static and slow dynamic conditions, FEP shows less reliable performance at low temperatures.

Polyacrylate -20°C to 170°C
These seals are optimal for high surface speed applications.

Silicone -60°C to 200°C
Outstanding for reducing friction and wear, silicone oil seals are effective across numerous fluids.

This data serves only as a general guide and should not dictate design decisions. For assistance in selecting the right material for your oil seals, don’t hesitate to reach out.

For detailed insights and options, please visit Custom Oil Seal.