MIL-DTL-25988 Fluorosilicone Case Study

SSP’s MIL-DTL-25988 fluorosilicone case study explains why you can’t afford to wait for materials that don’t provide batch-level proof.

MIL-DTL-25988 fluorosilicone gaskets are used in aerospace applications that require proven resistance to jet fuel and lubricating oils. They are fabricated from sheet or roll materials or produced from ready-to-mold compounds. Because these military-grade fluorosilicones are used in mission-critical applications, buyers want to know that the specific batch they receive meets the requirements of this important U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) specification.

Yet not all suppliers offer a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that contains this batch-level proof. Sometimes, the only cert a supplier provides is a Certificate of Conformance (COC), which simply attests that the product was made from compliant ingredients – and sometimes ingredients change. Other suppliers may offer COAs, but at considerable cost and with long lead times for outsourced testing. Buying small minimum order quantities (MOQ) of MIL-DTL-25988 fluorosilicones can be challenging, too.

As this case study from Specialty Silicone Products (SSP) explains, we can help you overcome these obstacles.

MIL-DTL-25988 Fluorosilicone Case Study: Low MOQs and AOG Delays

An aircraft on ground (AOG) delay of just a few hours can cost $10,000 in downtime, according to a Boeing estimate. Depending on the situation, however, the actual cost of an AOG delay can reach $150,000. So, when an aircraft was grounded for maintenance, a repair station contacted SSP and wanted to source a MIL-DTL-25988 fluorosilicone quickly. Other suppliers had provided quotes, but these companies either couldn’t provide a COA or could only do so with considerable time and expense. 

There was another problem as well. The repair station needed the equivalent of 1 square foot of material to make replacement parts. Even if the other suppliers could have provided a COA, these companies had much higher MOQs – and military-grade fluorosilicones can be expensive. At SSP, however, we offer low MOQs and send COAs regardless of order size with every military-grade material. Moreover, we don’t charge customers for these batch-level certifications.  

COAs for Military-Grade Materials

At our Ballston Spa, New York (USA) manufacturing facility, SSP maintains an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment for testing materials to military and other standards, such as AMS specifications. Consequently, SSP was able to provide the repair station with a COA that included batch-level details such as low-temperature retraction and compression set testing at different durations and under different temperature conditions. 

Importantly, SSP was able to supply the equivalent of 1 square foot of material and fill this order quickly. The repair station was able to fabricate replacement parts, and the aircraft was repaired without extended  AOG delays.

Find the MIL-DTL-25988 Fluorosilicone You Need

For more information about the military and aerospace silicones that SSP provides, and how we offer MOQs and shorter lead times, contact us online or email Dominic Testo, SSP’s Business Development Manager.