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Compound Selection and Supply
Five compounds cover the great majority of duty, and choosing between them is a matter of service temperature and chemistry rather than preference.
Compound windows. Nitrile for general water and oil. EPDM for steam, hot water and caustic, and the sanitary default. Silicone for wide temperature range. Viton/FKM for hydrocarbons and many acids but not steam. Butyl for specific chemical duty.
Match the current duty. Order against what the unit does now, not what it did when it was bought. Duties change, and a compound that suited the original service may be wrong for the present one.
Snap-in or glued. Many models use snap-in gaskets, which removes the adhesive step. Where gaskets are glued, the groove must be cleaned back and the adhesive given its cure time before the pack is closed.
Typical Specification
- Nitrile (NBR): General water and oil duty
- EPDM: Steam, hot water, caustic; sanitary default
- Silicone: Wide temperature range
- Viton / FKM: Hydrocarbons and many acids; not steam
- Butyl: Resin cured; specific chemical duty
- Attachment: Snap-in on many models; glued on others
- Identification: By unit serial number
- Storage: Above freezing, out of sunlight, uncompressed
- Policy: Renew whenever the pack is opened
- Spares: Full set held on site recommended
Common FAQs
Match it to the service temperature and chemistry the unit sees now. EPDM for steam, hot water and caustic. Nitrile for general water and oil. Viton for hydrocarbons and acids but not steam.
No. Compression set is invisible. A gasket can look untouched and still have given up most of its spring. It seals on the first close, then weeps as soon as the unit starts cycling.
Longer if stored above freezing, out of sunlight and uncompressed, but they do age. Order close to when you will fit them rather than holding them for years.
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