Elastomers : flexible and resistant materials
Chromex has available stock on raw material to ensure manufacturing of tailor-made gaskets in very short deadlines (24-48h according to availability). As a sealing-solution specialist, we have placed elastomers at the very heart of our cut gaskets range. In order to enhance our production capacities, thicknesses and materials of the industrial sealing market are managed on stock.
We are able to produce cut gaskets in specific materials, with approvals and according to drawings needing a high level of accuracy.
At Chromex, we provide following elastomers: NBR, FKM (or FPM/Viton™), EPDM, MVQ, SBR, CR. We can also provide you with gaskets in cell materials (foams) such as EPDM cellular rubber, cellular silicone, cellular chloroprene, cellular nitrile etc. Moreover, we also have polyurethane on stock (synthetic elastomer called PU rubber).
Elastomers are manufactured in rolls or in moulded plates according to required quantities and approvals.
What is an elastomer ?
Elastomer is commonly named « rubber ». It is a flexible material with excellent mechanical and chemical properties. Elastomers can be subjected to constraints, important distortion or compression. However, it will easily return to its original shape thanks to its elasticity. Our Chromex team can help you determine the most adapted elastomer according to your application and requirements.
Nitrile rubber (NBR)
NBR rubber cut gaskets are used for many applications. Indeed, NBR rubber is standard, costs very little and has good resistance to oils, hydrocarbons and to chemical products. We benefit from available stock of a standardized nitrile rubber range with thicknesses from 0.5mm to 10 mm, which enables us to answer your needs of specific tailor-made seals. Chromex also disposes of NBR rubber with FDA approval (FDA certified and compliant with the European Regulations No 1935/2004 and 2023/2006).
The nitrile rubber is mainly used in case of contact with oils (animal, mineral and vegetable oils), grease, air, gasoline, engine oils etc.
Thanks to our sealing-solution specialist status, we can also offer you HNBR rubber, which has a better resistance to high temperatures and to the ozone.
Fluorocarbon (FKM/FPM)
Fluorocarbon flat gaskets (FKM) are also known as Fluorocarbons, FPM, FKM or Viton® (Name commonly used on the market that has been commercialized as a FKM brand by DuPont™). We benefit from available stock of a standardized FPM rubber range with thicknesses from 1 mm to 10 mm which enables us to answer your needs of specific tailor-made gaskets. Chromex also has available stock of different FKM FDA materials (FDA certified) that we will be able to offer you according to your needs.
This material offers excellent resistance to high temperatures (up to 220-250°C according to the chosen material), but also to most of the existing chemical products as well as to the ozone. This material has a low compression set. Therefore, the FKM (or Viton®) undergoes very little distortions.
The ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)
Flat gaskets made out of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) are used in the industrial sealing area mainly because they are resistant to many constraints, such as UVs, cold temperatures (-40°C), ozone and weather conditions. EPDM will ensure an outstanding sealing action when used with water or steam.
Chromex has many different certified EPDM materials on stock to produce your tailor-made gaskets: drinking water certified EPDM (ACS, UBA, WRAS approvals), FDA certified EPDM (FDA and CE1935/2004), as well as standard rolls.
EPDM rubber is a standardized material for the manufacturing of flat gaskets. EPDM rubber can either be cured with sulphur or with peroxide. Sulphur cured EPDM is standard material. Peroxide cured EPDM is more stable and has better resistance to temperatures.
EPDM rubber is mainly used when in contact with water or steam (seals used in swimming pools or in water meters). EPDM is not adapted to the use with chemical products (inconsistent with hydrocarbons, oils and many types of greases).
Silicone (MVQ)
Silicone flat gaskets (MVQ or VMQ) are mainly to be found in the health- and pharmaceutical industries. Silicone has a wide temperatures range (-50°C à +200°C on average) and an excellent resistance to animal and vegetable oils as well as to ozone and UV.
Chromex benefits from a wide range of available FDA certified silicone rolls in 3 different colours (translucent, red and white).
Chromex’s elastomer cut gaskets
Chromex is an expert in gaskets cutting which manufactures directly in France on its production facility based in Etréchy (91). Thanks to our 30-years’ experience in cutting, we are able to manufacture your elastomer gaskets within 48 hours for small quantities.
We manage a wide range of different elastomer rubbers on stock (NBR, EPDM, FKM, MVQ, CR, SBR, PU rubber). Therefore, we are able to answer your enquiries for flat gaskets with no delay. Moreover, our very recent investment in a new cutting machine with conveyor allows us to produce large series of cut gaskets.
We are able to produce your gasket according to different manufacturing: blade cutting, press cutting, waterjet cutting and laser cutting.
