VACUUM WEIGHT LOSS

It is particularly important in many space and other vacuum applications that optical surfaces and
electrical contact surfaces remain clean to serve their intended purpose. Some rubber compounds
contain small quantities of oil or other ingredients that become volatile under high vacuum conditions and
deposit as a thin film on all the surrounding surfaces. Table A2-9 indicates the weight loss of several
Parker Seal compounds due to vacuum exposure. Where sensitive surfaces are involved, the higher
weight loss compounds should be avoided.

In those compounds which show low weight loss, the small amount of volatile material that is indicated is
primarily water vapor. It is not likely to deposit on nearby surfaces.

TABLE A2-9 WEIGHT LOSS OF COMPOUNDS IN VACUUM

Test Samples: Approximately .075 thick

Time: 336 hours (two weeks)
Vacuum Level: Approximately 1.0 E –06 torr
Temperature: Room Temperature

COMPOUND POLYMER PERCENT WEIGHT LOSS

B0612-70 Butyl .18

C0873-70 Neoprene .13
E0515-80 Ethylene Propylene .39
E0692-75 Ethylene Propylene .76
N0406-60 Nitrile 3.45
N0674-70 Nitrile 1.06
P0648-90 Polyurethane 1.29
S0455-70 Silicone .03
S0604-70 Silicone .31
V0747-75 Fluorocarbon .09
V0884-75 Fluorocarbon .07
V0894-90 Fluorocarbon .07