SSP makes MIL-R-25988B fluorosilicone rubber for military and aerospace gaskets.
General-purpose fluorosilicones combine the advantages of silicone rubber with resistance to solvents, fuels, and oils. Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) supplies these elastomers as compression-molded sheets, continuous rolls, and ready-to-mold compounds. SSP’s general-purpose fluorosilicones include products in different durometers that comply with MIL-R-25988, Version B requirements. SSP also supplies high-strength MIL-R-25988 silicones, SAE AMS 3326 fluorosilicones, and EMI shielding fluorosilicones.
Fluorosilicone Advantages
Like silicones, fluorosilicones withstand a wide range of temperatures, typically from -60° C to +200° C. In addition to thermal stability, these silicone-based elastomers provide electrical insulation and resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light. Because of their fluorine additions, fluorosilicones have greater resistance to solvents, fuels, and oils. This resistance is similar to that of organic fluorocarbon elastomers and makes fluorosilicones a good choice for hostile environments. Fluorosilicones provide good compression set, too.
Fluorosilicone Advantages
General-purpose silicones are used in military, aerospace, industrial, and automotive applications. Examples include the seals, gaskets, and O-rings on military aircraft that come into contact with jet fuel, aircraft grease, and de-icing fluids. General-purpose silicones are also used for door seals on production machinery like pharmaceutical equipment. Additional applications include rubber O-rings for hydraulic equipment.
MIL-R-25988B Fluorosilicone Rubber
MIL-R-25988B is a U.S. military specification (MIL-SPEC) for fluorosilicones that categorizes some materials as “general purpose”. MIL-R-25988B is divided into two classes: Type 1 for O-rings, and Type 2 for molded parts, sheets, strips, and extruded shapes. Within each Type, there are two Classes. Class 1 compounds are general-purpose. Class 2 materials are higher-strength elastomers.
SSP provides the following MIL-R-25988B, Type 2, Class 1 general-purpose compounds.
Elastomer | MIL-R-25988B Callouts | Product Specifications | |||||
Product No. | Type | Class | Grade | Durometer (Shore A) | Tensile Strength (psi) | Elongation (%) | Tear B (ppi/min) |
2 | 1 | 40 | 40 | 1500 | 500 | 130 | |
2 | 1 | 50 | 50 | 1300 | 500 | 225 | |
2 | 1 | 60 | 60 | 1000 | 350 | 150 | |
2 | 1 | 70 | 70 | 1000 | 250 | 128 | |
2 | 1 | 80 | 80 | 800 | 170 | 102 | |
* SSP-083 also meets SAE AMS 3326 requirements for fuel and oil resistance.
Why Buy MIL-R-25988B Fluorosilicone Rubber from SSP?
Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) is leveraging its continued growth and supply chain strength to become a leader in the fluorosilicone market. Today, SSP supplies fluorosilicones in low minimum order quantities (MOQs) for cost-effective prototyping and smaller production runs. Molders especially like our smaller batches so that they don’t have to buy 50-to-100 lb. MOQs to produce low volumes of small parts.
General-purpose fluorosilicones from SSP also support die cutting, water jet cutting, and other gasket fabrication methods. Here at our manufacturing facility in Ballston Spa, New York (USA), we can make fluorosilicone materials as thin as 0.10”. By contrast, most competitors offer materials with a minimum thickness of 0.15” or 0.20”.
SSP’s fluorosilicone rolls are available in a variety of widths so that gasket fabricators can minimize material waste. Roll stock comes in half-inch increments up to a maximum roll size of 15”. To learn more about general-purpose silicones to place an order with SSP, contact us on-line or email Dominic Testo.
