FFKM Plasma
Additive grade
also Chemraz, Perfluoroelastomer
Plasma = plasma / Radical Resistant
Choose for direct exposure to NF₃/O₂/fluorine radical plasma chamber cleans where erosion rate and particle shedding dominate seal life.
Values for the Plasma condition
Other FFKM grades and fills
FFKM is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at FFKM.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low Temperature | Use where the seal must stay resilient below −20 °C while still needing full FFKM chemical resistance. | — | 14 | 170 | 75 Shore A |
carbon-black filled, 70–75 Shore A | Lowest-cost workhorse FFKM for chemical process plant O-rings up to about 260–290 °C. | — | 15 | 160 | 72 Shore A |
PlasmaThis page Plasma / Radical Resistant | Choose for direct exposure to NF₃/O₂/fluorine radical plasma chamber cleans where erosion rate and particle shedding dominate seal life. | — | 15 | 120 | 30 Shore D |
High Temperature | Pick when the seal sees sustained >290 °C, e.g. ALD/CVD chamber, hot process gas or steam-hydrocarbon service. | — | 16 | 120 | 30 Shore D |
Steam / Amine / Hot Water Resistant grade | Optimised cure system and filler for long-term hot water, saturated steam and amine service where standard peroxide-cured elastomers harden or blister. | — | 16 | 150 | 75 Shore A |
Semiconductor GradeDefault low-particulate, plasma/wet-etch resistant perfluoroelastomer | Default choice for wafer-fab chamber, gate valve, slit-valve and wet-bench seals where particle generation, plasma erosion and metal-ion contamination matter. | — | 17 | 140 | 75 Shore A |
RGD / Explosive-Decompression Resistant | Higher-hardness, high-modulus compound qualified against rapid gas decompression, H₂S/amine and sour well fluids in downhole and valve seals. | — | 21 | 110 | 40 Shore D |
What is FFKM Plasma?
FFKM Plasma is FFKM in the Plasma grade — choose for direct exposure to NF₃/O₂/fluorine radical plasma chamber cleans where erosion rate and particle shedding dominate seal life. FFKM Plasma has a tensile strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi), weaker than 74% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 120% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.002 Msi). FFKM Plasma has a density of 2.1 g/cm³ (0.0759 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -3°C (27 °F). Semiconductor Grade is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Plasma is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 99/100, better than 100% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), better than 99% of polymer grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 95/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 28 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 100% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 2.1 g/cm³ (0.0759 lb/in³), worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 18/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 3.2%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0.01 GPa (0.002 Msi), worse than 77% of polymer grades
FFKM Plasma properties
Typical room-temperature values for FFKM Plasma; 15 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are FFKM reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical3
FFKM Plasma has a density of 2.1 g/cm³ (0.0759 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -3°C (27 °F).
Mechanical8
FFKM Plasma has a tensile strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi), weaker than 74% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 120% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.002 Msi).
Thermal8
FFKM Plasma is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 230 µm/m·K (127.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
FFKM Plasma is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 18 kV/mm (457.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (99/100), better than 100% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of FFKM Plasma takes about 400 MJ of energy and emits 28 kg of CO₂ — more than 100% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
FFKM Plasma's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with FFKM Plasma
Is FFKM easy to machine?
Not a machining material — parts are net-shape moulded; trimming is done cryogenically or by waterjet, and any secondary cutting must avoid heat and tearing.
Can FFKM be welded?
Cannot be welded; joints are made by co-moulding or bonded splices, and spliced rings lose a large part of the burst/extrusion strength.
Can FFKM be formed, bent or molded?
Compression or injection moulded at roughly 170–205 °C with a long oven post-cure (up to ~305 °C, hours to days) to develop full compression-set and heat resistance; mould shrinkage is high (~3–4 %) so tooling must be scaled per compound.
What surface finishes work on FFKM?
Supplied as-moulded with minimal flash; semiconductor grades are washed/extracted and cleanroom packaged, and no coating or painting is practical on the low-energy fluorinated surface.
FFKM chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)backbone comonomer, wt% of polymer | 50 – 70 | 62 |
| perfluoromethylvinyl ether (PMVE)flexibilising comonomer | 28 – 45 | 36 |
| cure-site monomer (e.g. perfluoro nitriltriazine or peroxide cross-link site | 0.3 – 3 | 1.5 |
| filler (carbon black, silica, TiO2, BaSOphr in the compound; grade dependent | 5 – 30 | 15 |
| curative / co-agent package | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
FFKM Plasma — frequently asked
What is FFKM Plasma used for?
FFKM Plasma is typically used for semiconductor plasma chamber seals, wafer wet-process O-rings, chemical reactor and valve seals, hot oilfield downhole seals, steam and amine service gaskets and aerospace fuel and hydraulic seals. In short: semiconductor-grade perfluoroelastomer.
What is the tensile strength of FFKM Plasma?
FFKM Plasma has a typical tensile strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) — weaker than 74% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is FFKM Plasma easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades). Not a machining material — parts are net-shape moulded; trimming is done cryogenically or by waterjet, and any secondary cutting must avoid heat and tearing.
Can FFKM Plasma be welded?
Cannot be welded; joints are made by co-moulding or bonded splices, and spliced rings lose a large part of the burst/extrusion strength.
What surface finishes work on FFKM Plasma?
Supplied as-moulded with minimal flash; semiconductor grades are washed/extracted and cleanroom packaged, and no coating or painting is practical on the low-energy fluorinated surface.
Can FFKM Plasma be formed, bent or molded?
Compression or injection moulded at roughly 170–205 °C with a long oven post-cure (up to ~305 °C, hours to days) to develop full compression-set and heat resistance; mould shrinkage is high (~3–4 %) so tooling must be scaled per compound.
What is the maximum service temperature of FFKM Plasma?
FFKM Plasma is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F), and briefly to 340°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in FFKM Plasma?
Yes — FFKM Plasma is available for injection molding; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Kalrez Perfluoroelastomer Parts — product and compound selection data — DuPont (2023)
- Chemraz perfluoroelastomer compound datasheets — Greene Tweed (2022)
- ASTM D1418 / ASTM D2000 — rubber classification (FFKM) — ASTM (2022)
- ASTM D412 / D395 / D2240 — tensile, compression set, durometer hardness of elastomers — ASTM (2021)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics/Elastomers — ASM International (1988)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.