O-ring VMQ
O-Rings in VMQ
Silicone elastomers (abbreviation VMQ) have no carbon polymer chain like conventional elastomers. The silicone polymer chain consists alternately of silicon and oxygen atoms (siloxanes). Silicone elastomers are processed as solid rubber and mostly cross-linked peroxide (alternative cross-linking with platinum) or as liquid rubber and mostly addition cross-linked.
Advantages of silicone
Silicone elastomers are characterised by a wide temperature range and very high low-temperature flexibility. The application temperature is in the range of -55 to 200°C, whereby higher or lower temperatures can be realised with special materials. Silicones have a good resistance to heat, ozone and ageing and have a good resistance to animal and vegetable fats and oils and many chemicals. However, the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break and abrasion resistance are rather lower than those of other elastomers. Dynamic applications are also not recommended due to the high coefficient of friction and the relatively low tensile strength.
Fields of application of silicone
Due to the purity of silicones, they do not give off any taste or smell and are therefore often used in the food and beverage industry. Another very important area of application is in medical technology, the pharmaceutical industry and in the field of household appliances.
Due to the purity of silicones, they do not give off any taste or smell and are therefore often used in the food and beverage industry. Another very important area of application is in medical technology, the pharmaceutical industry and in the field of household appliances.
Angst+Pfister's VMQ standard material is the HITEC® VMQ 70.10-01 and is approved according to 3-A Sanitary Standard, USP Class VI, GB 4806.11-2016, FDA, EC 1935/2004 Article 3, EC 11/2003, EC 95/2002 (RoHS), EN 549 and is free of animal additives (ADI free).
Another very important VMQ material in the Angst+Pfister product range is PERTEC® VMQ UP 70-501-01, a translucent compound that has almost all approvals from the food industry.