Chemical Resistance Guide
For more details about chemical resistance, please check our Rubber Chemical Resistance Guide.
VMQ (silicone)
VMQ (often referred to as silicone) is an elastomeric material made from silicone, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. VMQ stands for Vinyl Methyl Quartz but is also described as MVQ. The names VMQ, MVQ, and silicone, all refer to the same material. There are also special types such as FVMQ (fluoro-silicone) and PVMQ (phenyl silicone).
Silicone is famous for in-home sealing applications, such as silicone kits for kitchens, bathrooms, and windows. That is mostly room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone. The VMQ materials at ERIKS Sealing & Polymer are high-temperature vulcanized (HTV) and Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR).
Silicones are known for their extreme high-temperature resistance, low-temperature flexibility and good resistance to UV, oxygen, and ozone. A significant advantage of silicones is that they can be filled easily with different additives to create special silicone types with good electrical or thermal conductivity, flame resistance, etc.
Overall, VMQ mechanical strength is poor compared to carbon rubber (EPDM, NBR, FKM, etc.), resulting in lower tensile strength, lower tear resistance, and lower abrasion resistance. Additionally, the relatively high friction makes VMQ unsuitable for use in dynamic applications unless you have no other choice.
For seals, the typical use of silicone is:
- Hot (air) applications, such as oven seals
- Cold (air) applications, such as cooling/freezer seals
- Where certifications are needed for food, pharma, and medical uses
- Where low deformation force is available, for example, in plastic housings
Many silicone compounds have a higher mould shrinkage compared to many carbon elastomers (EPDM, NBR, FKM, etc.). Therefore, production moulds for silicone products are often different compared to other elastomer materials.
Strengths & Limitations
Temperature Resistance
- Low temperatures to -60°C, even to -100°C for special PVMQ types
- High temperatures: +200°C, even +250°C or +300°C for special types
Chemical & Aging Resistance
Strengths
- Hot air aging
- Ozone, UV, and sunlight-resistant
- Animal and vegetable fats and oils
Limitations
- Mineral oils and fats
- Strong acids
Material Comparison
- VMQ has better high-temperature resistance
- VMQ has better low-temperature flexibility
- VMQ is similar to better UV-Ozone and hot air ageing resistance
- VMQ LSR is better for very high volumes, complex detailed shapes, and high tear resistance
- VMQ LSR is only for injection molding; therefore, it has a much higher tooling cost compared
- VMQ exhibits reduced chemical resistance
- VMQ offers enhanced resistance at lower temperatures
- The overall cost of VMQ is lower
- VMQ possesses comparable resistance to high temperatures
VMQ Compound Overview
Custom Engineered Solutions
To guarantee the best quality for custom products, we work with Six Sigma engineering methods, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations and special development processes.
Standard Products
General contact ERIKS Group Head Office
Post address
ERIKS NV
P.O. Box 19108
3501 DC Utrecht
The Netherlands
E info@eriks.com
Chamber of Commerce
37 01 32 89
VAT Number
NL003.076.490.B02
