O-Ring Materials: Silicone vs NBR vs FKM
2025-04
O-ring material is chosen by temperature, media and compression set. Silicone excels at extreme temperature (-60~200℃) and food/medical compatibility but has modest strength and oil resistance; NBR offers good oil resistance at low cost within about -40~120℃; FKM stands out on oil, chemical and high-temperature (-20~250℃) resistance but costs more and is brittle when cold.
In short: pick NBR for oil-dominated service, silicone for wide temperature and clean environments, FKM for aggressive chemicals or hot oils. Also weigh hardness, compression ratio and clearance to avoid extrusion and set failure.
