Selection Guide Buna, EPDM Viton For Valves

9/16/22, 5:49 PM Selection Guide: Buna, EPDM, or Viton in valve products
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Home | News | Selection Guide: Buna, EPDM, Or Viton In Valve Products
VALVE Products Selection Guide: Buna, EPDM, Or Viton In Valve

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 Foot Valves Buna, EPDM, Viton® are all similar seal materials but what stands each of these apart? Choosing the right elastomer or
polymer
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material 1-800-833-2040
is important for a number of reasons. While it may not seem like a major decision, SUBMIT RFQ
the material
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chosen determines the quality, lifespan, and performance of an application. From snapping to peeling to breaking; a
 Plug Valves seal material that is a poor fit for an application can lead to a number of issues down the road. Seal material has a
long-term effect on your application’s capabilities.
 Quarter Turn Ball Valves
 Strainers The information outlined below will offer guidance and provide the best solution based on the most defined
 VFD Valves aspects of your application including:
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Impact and temperature 
resistance
Compression strength
Assembly and physical properties
Weather conditions
Chemical compatibility
First Item to Consider: What Does High Elasticity Mean?

The term “high elasticity” is known in the industry as the ability of an object to return to its shape once it no longer is
attached to its source of stress. Rubber compound represents a wide collection of materials – known as elastomers –
which includes base elastomer, vulcanization agents, fillers, and plasticizers its main feature being high elasticity.
Therefore, rubber is widely considered the best material for objects known as “seal materials”.
Questions to consider when selecting the right seal material for an application include:
Will this application be exposed to water, oil, gas, harsh chemicals, or other materials?
What is the minimum and maximum temperature resistance?
What is the required compression strength?
Will this application be exposed to sunlight for hours at a time?
Whether you’re choosing Buna (Nitrile), EPDM, or Viton®, it’s important to compare and consider all key features
and benefits.
BUNA
When it comes down to abrasive, water and oil resistant, and super-strength properties; Buna is the most cost-
effective
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elastomer. SUBMIT
Buna, also referred to as Nitrile rubber, is commonly known as the industry’s most RFQ
economical
option in the wide variety of seal material options to choose from. Buna is well known in the industry for its mechanical
performance and is the top performer when it comes down to oil-based, petrochemical, and chemical applications.
The more Nitrile in a polymer means a higher resistance to chemicals, acids, and other oils.
Therefore, Buna is widely used in the industry for crude oil, water, various alcohol, silicone grease, and hydraulic fluid
applications due to its inflexibility.
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Buna is comprised of synthetic rubber copolymer that performs well in applications requiring metal adhesion and
abrasion-resistant material – this chemical background makes it ideal for sealant applications. Designed with a
moderately poor acid and mild alkali resistance, Buna can also withstand low temperatures. However, Buna is limited
to extremely high temperatures, can be weather and sunlight resistance, and steam resistance – making it limited to
more extreme applications. Buna is also not suitable with CIP sanitizing agents containing acids and peroxides, such
as OXONIA.
Key advantages and benefits to consider about Buna include:
Economical and affordable

Strong and sturdy elongation
Good for oil and water resistance
Features a low compression set
High abrasion resistance
Heavy duty strength
Wide range in temperature resistance
Heat resistant and cold resistant
Disadvantages of Nitrile rubber include:
Limited extreme temperature resistance

Poor flame resistance
Not suitable for hydraulic liquids, brake fluids, ketones, and acetates
Limited sunlight, weather, and ozone resistance
Key applications for Nitrile rubber in the valve industry:

Sealants
O-rings
Molded products
EPDM
When considering flexibility strength, weather resistance, and the ability to withstand extreme conditions, EPDM is
Valves  About Us  Support  an excellent
Technicaloption. EPDM,
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known& as Ethylene
Media  Propylene Diene Monomer, is a specific type of synthetic rubber
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and one of the most commonly used elastomeric materials for automotive, construction, and mechanical good
applications. Slightly more expensive when compared to Buna, it can withstand a variety of thermal, weather, and
mechanical properties because of its long-lasting high tensile strength. It’s ideal for applications that involve water,
chlorine, bleach, and other alkaline materials. From waterproofing needs to HVAC needs, EPDM is used for a variety of
industrial applications because of its resistance to weathering, ozone, and deionized water. With both elastic and
adhesive properties, once stretched EPDM always returns to its original shape regardless of the temperature. However,
EPDM is not recommended for petroleum oil, fluids, chlorinated hydrocarbon, or hydrocarbon solvent applications.
Key advantages to consider about EDPM includes:
Wide operational temperature range

Suitable for extreme environment and cold materials
Superior ozone and sunlight resistance
Good compression set
Sturdy tear, abrasion, and steam resistance
High tolerance to sodium hydroxide solutions, diluted acids, ketones, and alkalis
Versatile for a number of applications including but not limited to the industrial and HVAC industries
Disadvantages of EPDM include:
Easy to damage
Poor resistance to petroleum-based fuels
Difficult to adhere to
Not compatible with a variety of oils or acids
EPDM is used across a wide range of industrial applications, including:

Seals and O-rings
Tubing
Washers
VITON®
Viton® is the more expensive option over BUNA and EPDM seals but it’s the perfect high-end solution for
Valves  About Us  Support  applications
Technicalexposed to 
Resources extreme weather,
News ozone,
& Media  andPrice
chemical
Lists degradation. Significantly more expensive when
®
compared to EPDM and Buna, Viton is a long-lasting high-performance fluorinated hydrocarbon rubber product most
commonly used in O-Ring and seals for the valve industry. Excellent for resistance to ozone, oxidation, and extreme
weather conditions — including a variety of materials such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated fluids,
strong acid materials — Viton® is one of the robust fluoroelastomers. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures,
Viton® seals are the preferred option for the most challenging and demanding sealing needs.
Viton® is able to provide support for an extremely broad range of substances and features exceptional good resistance
to high temperatures and excellent resilience capabilities.
Key advantages to consider about Viton® include:
Powerful when under pressure

High-temperature performance
Outstanding chemical compatibility among a wide variety of chemicals and acids
Retains flexibility and elasticity in high-pressure applications
Excellent use for sterilization
High-heat resistance
Absorbs fluids quickly and efficiently
Longer life span
Environmentally-friendly
Disadvantages of Viton® include:
More expensive than Nitrile

Selection Guide Buna, EPDM Viton For Valves

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9/16/22, 5:49 PM Selection Guide: Buna, EPDM, or Viton in valve products

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Home | News | Selection Guide: Buna, EPDM, Or Viton In Valve Products

VALVE Products Selection Guide: Buna, EPDM, Or Viton In Valve

 Automatic Control Valves

First Item to Consider: What Does High Elasticity Mean?

Key advantages and benefits to consider about Buna include:

Economical and affordable

Disadvantages of Nitrile rubber include:

Limited extreme temperature resistance

Key applications for Nitrile rubber in the valve industry:

Key advantages to consider about EDPM includes:

Wide operational temperature range

Disadvantages of EPDM include:

EPDM is used across a wide range of industrial applications, including:

Key advantages to consider about Viton® include:

Powerful when under pressure

Disadvantages of Viton® include:

More expensive than Nitrile

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