Our New Rubber Chemical Resistance and Compatibility Guide

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is about which rubber to use for sealing a particular type of fluid. Queries like “is Nitrile ok to use for sealing a petrol tank” or “can I use Silicone as a gasket for a LNG line” are quite common. With so many different types of rubber out there, and an almost infinite number of possible mediums, it’s pretty understandable.

We’re always happy to help with these questions but part of our mission here at Swift is to provide as much information as possible. That’s why we’re very happy to announce the publication of our new rubber chemical resistance and compatibility guide.

We’ve worked to make this guide as comprehensive as possible. Right now, it includes information on over 500 different types of chemicals, liquids and media and covers 8 popular styles of rubber used for sealing and gaskets (expanded on below).

Of course, a rubbers compatibility with a particular chemical is only one of the factors contributes to seal performance. It’s very important, but it is not everything. Amongst other things (like how the gasket is to be installed) you should also consider…

1. The Grade of the Elastomer.
   There are many, many different rubber manufactuers. All use slightly different formulas and variable amounts of filler compounds. The result is that Neoprene sheet from one manufactuer may, in fact, be quite different to Neoprene sheet from another. Variable levels of purity will result in different levels of chemical resistance and seal performance.
2. The Temperature of Service.
   Elevated temperatures increase the affect that a chemical or media will have on an elastomer. The degree of the increase will vary depending on the particular type of rubber and the chemical. As a result, a rubber that might seal a particular chemical perfectly well at room temperature could fail if subjected to higher temperature conditions.
3. The Durometer / Hardness of the Rubber.
   Generally speaking, the harder the rubber material, the greater its chemical resistance. 
4. Conditions of Service.
   A rubber that swells when used in conjunction with a particular fluid may be perfectly fine for sealing in a static application yet fail in a dynamic sealing environment. 

Because of these limitations and the effect these additional factors can have on sealing performance, it is always best to test a sealing material in the actual sealing environment.

Even with all this information, we’ll be the first to admit it doesn’t cover everything. We’ll keep updating the guide as we get new information on different chemicals or additional types of rubber are requested. In the meantime, if you need assistance finding the right rubber for a particular sealing job, or want to confirm your conclusions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to help in any way we can.

You can find our rubber chemical resistance guide here.

Different Types of Rubber Covered in our Chemical Resistance Guide

Natural Insertion Rubber

Styrene Butadiene Rubber

Butyl Rubber

EPDM Rubber

Nitrile Rubber

Neoprene Rubber

Silicone Rubber

Viton Rubber