Fluorosilicone: The Highest-Performance Silicone

Fluorosilicone (FVMQ) is a specialized type of elastomer material that combines the properties of silicone rubber and fluorocarbon rubber. It is known for its excellent resistance to fuels, oils, solvents, and high temperatures, making it a popular choice for use in demanding industrial applications. Fluorosilicone can be used to manufacture custom molded rubber components, O-rings, gaskets, and more.

What is Fluorosilicone?

Fluorosilicone is a family of copolymers containing fluorine for added chemical resistance. FVMQ is widely used and can be compounded to meet a range of applications. The mechanical and physical properties of this material are very similar to silicone. Fluorosilicone offers improved flexibility and strength, better resistance to fuels and mineral oil, but reduced hot air resistance. Fluorosilicone can generally be used as a replacement for silicone where greater mechanical attributes are required. This material is widely used in semiconductor ashing equipment for its resistance to oxygen plasma. Fluorosilicone is also used in the aerospace and automotive industries as a replacement for fluorocarbon seals when low temperature performance is required. It is frequently manufactured in a light blue color due to certain military & aerospace requirements.

How Does Fluorosilicone Work?

The unique combination of silicone and fluorocarbon polymers gives fluorosilicone its unique properties. The silicone component provides good flexibility and low-temperature performance, while the fluorocarbon component offers excellent chemical resistance and high-temperature capabilities.

Fluorosilicone is highly resistant to fuels, oils, solvents, and many other chemicals that other elastomer materials would typically break down from. Additionally, it can withstand temperatures ranging from -80°F to 350°F (-62°C to 177°C), with some blends capable of -85°F to 392°F (-65°C to 200°C), making it a reliable material for high-temperature applications. To learn more about Canyon Components fluorosilicone, check out our fluorosilicone page.

Applications of Fluorosilicone

Fluorosilicone has a broad range of applications in various industries, including:

1. Aerospace Industry: Fluorosilicone is used in the aerospace industry for manufacturing O-rings, seals, gaskets, and other components that require resistance to jet fuels and other harsh chemicals.
2. Automotive Industry: Fluorosilicone is used in the automotive industry for manufacturing O-rings, seals, gaskets, and other components that require resistance to fuels and oils.
3. Chemical Processing Industry: Fluorosilicone is used in the chemical processing industry for manufacturing O-rings, seals, and gaskets that require resistance to a wide range of chemicals.
4. Electronics Industry: Fluorosilicone is used in the electronics industry for manufacturing electrical insulation components that can withstand high temperatures and chemicals.
5. Medical Industry: Fluorosilicone is used in the medical industry for manufacturing O-rings seals, gaskets, and other components that require resistance to harsh chemicals and high temperatures. For more information about USP Class VI materials, check out our USP Class VI blog post.

Conclusion

Fluorosilicone is a specialized elastomer material that offers excellent chemical resistance, high-temperature capabilities, and electrical insulation properties. Its unique combination of properties makes it an ideal material for demanding applications across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, electronics, and medical. If you require a high-performance elastomer material for your industrial application, fluorosilicone may be an excellent choice for you.

Where can I get Fluorosilicone parts?

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Sources:

[1] Mistri, E. A., Ghosh, A., & Banerjee, S. (2015). Fluorosilicones and other fluoropolymers. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 271–317). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-35792-0.00006-4

[2] Flitney, B. (2005). Extending the application of fluorosilicone elastomers. Sealing Technology, 2005(2), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1350-4789(05)00519-2

[3] Park, Y., Yoon, J., Shin, K., Cho, Y., Yun, J., Han, W., Hong, M., Kang, D., & Kim, H. (2023). Enhancing Stiffness and Oil Resistance of Fluorosilicone Rubber Composites through Untreated Cellulose Reinforcement. Polymers, 15(23), 4489. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234489