FKM VS PTFE

Materials Difference

FKM rubber and PTFE
FKM rubber and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) are both fluorinated materials, but they differ in their properties and applications.

FKM rubber (fluorine rubber) is an elastic rubber material with good chemical resistance, high temperature resistance and oil resistance. It is composed of fluorocarbon polymer and fluorocarbon prepolymer. Commonly used FKM rubbers include styrene-butadiene rubber (FKM/FPM), nitrile rubber (HNBR/FKM), fluorine rubber (FFKM), etc. FKM rubber is widely used in automobiles, aerospace, chemical industry and other fields, and is especially suitable for seals and rubber products that require high temperature resistance and chemical resistance.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a very special fluorinated material that is a low-friction, non-adhesive plastic. PTFE has excellent chemical resistance, heat resistance and electrical insulation properties. It has an extremely low coefficient of friction, making it useful in lubrication and anti-stick applications. PTFE is widely used in seals, bearings, valve gaskets, conduits and other fields.

Overall, FKM rubber and PTFE differ in their properties and applications. FKM rubber is suitable for applications requiring higher elasticity and sealing properties, while PTFE is suitable for applications requiring low friction, non-adhesion and chemical stability. The exact material chosen depends on the desired performance and application environment.

FKM rubber advantages and disadvantages

FKM rubber (fluorine rubber), as a special material, has the following advantages and disadvantages:

advantage

  • Chemical resistance: FKM rubber has excellent chemical resistance and can withstand the erosion of a variety of chemical substances, including acids, alkalis, oils, solvents, etc. This makes it excellent in applications requiring corrosion resistance.
  • High temperature resistance: FKM rubber is able to maintain its physical properties and elasticity in high temperature environments, often withstanding temperatures up to over 200°C. This makes it widely used in high-temperature sealing and heat-resistant applications.
  • Oil resistance: FKM rubber has good oil resistance and can maintain stable performance under contact with lubricating oil, fuel and other liquid petroleum products.
    Sealing performance: FKM rubber has excellent sealing performance and can provide reliable sealing effect, especially suitable for sealing requirements of high pressure, high temperature and corrosive media.

shortcoming

  • High cost: FKM rubber has a higher cost than some other rubber materials, which may limit its widespread use in certain applications.
  • Difficult processability: Due to the high heat resistance and chemical stability of FKM rubber, its processing and molding are relatively difficult and require specific production processes and equipment.
  • Low-temperature performance limitations: Although FKM rubber performs well under high-temperature conditions, its elasticity and softness may be affected to a certain extent in low-temperature environments, resulting in reduced performance.

PTFE advantages and disadvantages

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), as a special fluorinated material, has advantages and disadvantages

  • advantage
    Non-sticky: PTFE has extremely low surface adhesion, making it a very good anti-stick material. Almost nothing can stick to PTFE surfaces, making it useful in anti-stick and easy-to-clean applications.
  • Chemical resistance: PTFE has excellent chemical resistance and can resist the attack of most chemicals, including strong acids, strong bases and solvents. This makes it widely used in applications requiring corrosion resistance.
  • High temperature resistance: PTFE is able to maintain its physical properties and stability in high temperature environments and can withstand temperatures up to 260°C. This gives it excellent performance in high temperature applications.
  • Electrical insulation: PTFE is an excellent electrical insulation material with good insulation properties and can remain stable under high voltage and high frequency.
    Low coefficient of friction: PTFE has an extremely low coefficient of friction, making it useful in applications for lubrication and reducing friction losses.

shortcoming

  • Low mechanical strength: PTFE has relatively low mechanical strength and is prone to deformation and wear. Under conditions of high pressure, high loads and severe friction, its performance may be limited.
  • Difficult processability: The processing and molding of PTFE is relatively difficult and requires special production processes and equipment. It has high viscosity and high melting point and requires special processing to achieve molding.
  • Brittleness: Although PTFE has good wear resistance, under low temperature conditions, its brittleness increases, which may lead to brittleness.

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Processing technology

FKM rubber (fluorine rubber) processing technology

  • Formula design: Design a suitable FKM rubber formula based on the required performance requirements and application scenarios. The formula includes rubber base materials, reinforcing agents, fillers, cross-linking agents, processing aids, etc.
  • Mixing: Add the rubber base material and other formula raw materials into the mixer in a certain proportion and mix. The purpose of mixing is to uniformly disperse various raw materials and fully mix them with the rubber base material.
  • Calendering: Calender the mixed rubber material through a calender or extruder. The purpose of calendering is to make the rubber material flat and uniform, forming a sheet or strip of material with a certain thickness and width.
  • Cutting or molding: According to the shape and size requirements of the specific product, the rolled rubber material is cut or formed by cutting or molding.
  • Vulcanization: Put the cut or molded rubber products into a vulcanization furnace for vulcanization. The purpose of vulcanization is to cross-link the rubber molecules through heating and adding vulcanizing agents to improve its physical properties and durability.
  • Surface treatment: Surface treatment, such as cleaning, coating, bonding, etc., is performed on rubber products as needed to meet specific functional or application requirements.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) processing technology

Raw material preparation: Prepare PTFE raw materials, usually provided in powder or granular form. The quality and purity of raw materials are critical to the performance of the final product.

  • Preparing slurry: Mix the PTFE raw material with an appropriate amount of solvent (usually an alkane or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent) to form a slurry. The purpose of the slurry is to thoroughly mix the PTFE powder with the solvent to form a flowable paste.
  • Pressing: Put the PTFE slurry into the mold and press it into the desired shape. Pressing pressure and temperature are controlled according to specific product requirements.
  • Sintering: Sintering the pressed PTFE products. The purpose of sintering is to combine the PTFE particles together to form a dense structure through high-temperature treatment. Sintering temperatures are typically between 327°C and 380°C.
  • Cooling and solidification: Cool the sintered PTFE product to room temperature to solidify. Solidification refers to the rearrangement of PTFE molecules during cooling to form a stable structure.
  • Processing and forming: According to the requirements of specific products, the cured PTFE products are processed and formed, including cutting, drilling, milling, bending and other processes. The purpose of processing and molding is to make PTFE products achieve the required shape and size.
  • Surface treatment: Surface treatment, such as polishing, coating, bonding, etc., is performed on PTFE products as needed to meet specific functional or application requirements.

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