Are VITON™ and FKM the Same?

Fluoro-Elastomer is a highly resilient type of synthetic rubber and its hard-wearing qualities make it a popular choice in the oil and gas industries. The material is widely used when dealing with aggressive fuels and chemicals that would rapidly degrade other rubbers. Here are a few examples of their uses:

Tubing and hose linings made from this material are used in the transportation of Bio-diesel, which is an unstable fuel. Fluoro-Elastomer sheeting is employed in situations where explosive gases are used extensively. Gloves are also made from this material and are used when dealing with strong organic solvents with highly corrosive properties. Discover the thermal properties of FKM.

All in a Name

However, despite the material’s undeniable usefulness, there is a lot of confusion as to what its proper name is. This can lead to problems when ordering the correct material. Hopefully this article will clear any further confusion.

Fluoro-Elastomer is usually referred to as FKM  FPM  or as VITON™ after the popular brand which produces it. You may see this rubber listed in different places with these different names, but they are all one and the same. Originally developed by Du Pont, it is produced by a number of companies around the world.

Despite being the designation for the same material, each name is the recognised name for Fluoro-Elastomer for different organisations. This is where the confusion arises amongst many people. To set the record straight, here’s a rundown of what they are:

FKM is the American standard ASTM short form name for Fluro-Elastomer. It is the designation for around 80% of Fluoro-Elastomers defined by ASTM D1418.

VITON™ is a registered trademark of Du Pont performance elastomers, the original developers of the rubber. However, the Viton is also used as a general name for the material, no matter who the manufacturer is.

FPM is Fluoro-Elastomer’s DIN/ISO international abbreviation (1629 standard).