The steam/amine/base specialist
Bridges the gap between FKM and FFKM with strong chemical + hot-water/steam resistance.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Also called | FEPM, TFE/P, AFLAS® |
| Typical service temp | ~–10°F to +450°F (grade-dependent; low-temp grades to –40 °C, high-temp to 482 °F/250 °C) |
| Hardness range | 60–90 Shore A |
| Core strengths | Steam & hot water, amines/alkalis, phosphate esters, engine coolants & oils, ozone/weather |
| Trade-offs | Higher compression set and lower extrusion resistance at high temp; modest cold flexibility |
| Actual limits vary by compound and media—verify in your service conditions. | |
BEST FOR
- ✔ Steam/hot water service, CIP, pulp & paper
- ✔ Amines / high-pH bases / phosphate-ester hydraulic fluids
- ✔ Automotive coolants, motor/gear oils; some brake/steering fluids
- ✔ Need better base/steam resistance than FKM without FFKM cost
Not For
- ✘ Aromatic fuels, ketones, chlorinated hydrocarbons
- ✘ Very cold start-ups (consider low-temp grades or system pre-heat)
- ✘ High ΔP dynamic service without backup rings (extrusion risk)
Popular FEPM Options
- 70A / 80A / 90A FEPM (black) — including a full AS568 line at 80A
- High-temperature grades and low-temperature formulations
Inch (AS568) and metric sizes. Custom sizes and colors on request.
Engineering Notes
- Chemistry: Copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) + propylene → unusual resistance to steam, bases, amines, phosphate esters.
- Compared to FKM: much better steam/base resistance.
- Compared to FFKM: similar broad chemical direction in many environments at a lower cost, but with lower low-temp flexibility and higher compression set.
- Use backup rings for high temperature + high pressure to control extrusion.
- Applications:
- Oil + Gas tools • Mechanical seals • Marine/large diesel engines • Chemical processing • Power gen • Steam service • Food/pharma (select compounds).