Fluoroelastomer Characterization: Approaches and Considerations

        Fluoroelastomers represent a specialty class of high performance elastomers. In the ASTM D-2000 Designation, they are noted for Type and Class as HK. Although this might be useful for general comparison of fluoroelastomers to other elastomers, it does nothing to delineate and differentiate the wider class of fluoroelastomer polymer systems that are available and how and where their properties might provide performance capability in different applications. This paper will discuss an approach to evaluating and structuring fluoroelastomers based on their material response and appropriateness for use in particular applications.