Reversible elastic deformations
Elastomers are materials that can maintain their elasticity even after major deformations. That is, elastomers, subjected to an applied load, can return to their original shape when this load is reduced. This feature makes these materials frequently indispensable for the creation of both static and dynamic seals. The elastomer family contains various types of compounds each offering very different resistances. NBR, for example, is a highly oil resistant compound, with a thermal range that makes it ideal for various mechanical and hydraulic applications. EPDM, on the other hand, offers high resistance to sanitising products and high temperatures, so it is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industry. As well as having a high thermal resistance, FPM has a chemical resistance that covers a wide range of components that are aggressive for other elastomers, and is therefore widely used in the chemical industry. Silicones and MVQs have the lowest mechanical resistance of all elastomers but they also have a very high thermal resistance for both high and low temperatures, which are often used for static seals.