| Primary function | Wetted body, sleeve, valve, or connection components | General-purpose elastomer sealing option | High-temperature and chemical-resistant elastomer sealing option | Confirm whether the quoted material applies to the body, seals, springs, balls, and retaining rings. |
| Typical continuous temperature range | Approximately −196°C to +300°C, subject to alloy condition, pressure, and connection design | Approximately −40°C to +100°C; some compounds may reach about +120°C | Approximately −20°C to +200°C; some compounds may reach about +230°C | Use the seal compound manufacturer’s certified range for the exact formulation and duty cycle. |
| Low-temperature performance | Excellent for cryogenic service when the complete coupling is designed and tested for it | Good general low-temperature flexibility, but performance decreases as the compound approaches its lower limit | Usually less suitable than NBR for low-temperature flexibility unless a low-temperature grade is specified | For cryogenic gases or liquids, request low-temperature leakage and cycling test data. |
| Resistance to oils and fuels | Very good corrosion resistance in many industrial environments; chloride exposure requires care | Good resistance to petroleum oils, mineral oils, and many hydraulic fluids | Excellent resistance to many mineral oils, fuels, and aggressive hydrocarbon fluids | Check fluid composition, additives, pressure, and temperature together rather than selecting by fluid name alone. |
| Resistance to water and steam | Generally suitable for water service; chloride concentration and temperature affect corrosion risk | Generally suitable for water, but hot-water and steam resistance is grade-dependent | Suitable for many dry-heat applications; hot-water and steam compatibility must be verified for the specific grade | For saturated steam, consider a steam-rated seal compound rather than relying only on the FKM or NBR name. |
| Chemical resistance | Strong general corrosion resistance; susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion in high-chloride environments | Good with many oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; limited with ozone, strong oxidizers, and some solvents | Very good with many fuels, oils, acids, and solvents; limited with some amines, ketones, and hot water or steam | Request a compatibility review when the media contains ketones, amines, concentrated acids, or high chloride levels. |
| Weathering and ozone resistance | Excellent for outdoor exposure when the surface finish and surrounding materials are appropriate | Limited to moderate; prolonged ozone and sunlight exposure can cause cracking | Excellent resistance to ozone, oxygen, and weathering | For outdoor hydraulic or pneumatic equipment, FKM generally provides longer seal life than standard NBR. |
| Typical application areas | Chemical processing, food and beverage equipment, instrumentation, high-purity systems, and marine service | General hydraulic oil, compressed air, fuel, and industrial fluid connections | Automotive fuel systems, chemical equipment, high-temperature hydraulics, and demanding industrial service | Application suitability depends on media, pressure, temperature, coupling cycle frequency, and cleanliness requirements. |
| Common connection formats | Threaded, tube-end, hose-barb, push-to-connect, and face-seal configurations | Compatible with many general-purpose quick-connect profiles when the seal groove is correctly designed | Compatible with many industrial quick-connect profiles where high-temperature sealing is required | Verify interchangeability by dimensional profile, valve type, locking mechanism, and standard—not by appearance. |
| Important specification checks for global buyers | Material grade, heat treatment, surface finish, corrosion testing, and traceability | Hardness, compound designation, compression set, fluid compatibility, and temperature rating | Hardness, compound designation, compression set, chemical compatibility, and high-temperature aging data | Ask for dimensional drawings, pressure-temperature curves, test reports, inspection records, and applicable conformity documents. |
| Best-fit selection summary | Select for corrosion resistance, cleanliness, durability, and demanding process environments | Select for cost-effective general service with petroleum-based fluids and moderate temperatures | Select for elevated temperatures, weathering, and many aggressive hydrocarbon environments | Final selection should be validated against the complete pressure, temperature, media, and cycling profile. |