ASTM Elastomer Rubber Designations

AU EU CSM T FKM FC, FE, GE FK Polyesterurethanes Polyetherurethanes Chlorosulphanated polyethylene Thiokol Fluorinated rubbers-Vitons Silicone rubbers Fluorosilicone rubbers 

Specialty materials offer properties or combinations of properties not available in any other class of materials. With extreme high temperature and low temperature resistance, extreme chemical resistance and stability over a wide range of operating conditions, these materials perform where no others can. 

Trade name Silicone Flourosilicone Thiokol Viton 

Compression set resistance Very good Good Poor Good 

Tear/Chip resistance Poor Poor Poor Good 

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For reference, ASTM Elastomer (Rubber) Designations for various synthetic rubbers are given in Table 5.2. 

There have been some attempts to develop chlorinated polyethylene elastomers. The rubbers possess such attractive properties as very good oil, heat, flame, ozone, and weathering resistance and are also available in a convenient powder form. In spite of being marketed at competitive prices, the chlorinated polyethylene rubbers (designated as CM rubbers by ASTM) took... 

Sircar [138] has reviewed the analysis of elastomer vulcanisate composition by TG/DTG techniques. The classical ASTM method, D297-93 [139], is too lengthy to be of much practical use on a routine basis, often requires preliminary identification of the polymer and is costly. TG has gained itself wide acceptance as a method for quantitative compositional analysis of vulcanisates ASTM El 131 [140], is basically designed for the analysis of rubber compounds [141]. Thermogravimetric analysis can be used to determine ... 

Negretti Automation supplies the computer-controlled Gibitre low-temperature check apparatus designed to test the low-temperature properties (-73 °C, liquid carbon dioxide), i.e., crystallisation effects and elastic recovery, of rubbers and elastomers according to ASTM D1329 [140] by means of the TR test and brittleness point. ATS FAAR supplies an instrument for carrying out the same measurements. 

Two other polymer-based industries are found to depend more on one class than the other. The rubber industry uses both carbon chain and heterochain polymers. A generic classification of elastomers suggested by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) indicates no bias toward carbon chain polymers [1]. However, the seven heterochain rubbers listed in Appendix 16.A probably constituted less than 5% of the total rubber produced in 2000. The reasons for this situation appear to be economic and historical rather than fundamentally physical or chemical. Heterochain polymers of excellent strength, resilience, and durability have been designed, but never at a price that attracted widespread use. 

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