Elastomer / rubber · Material Overview

FFKM

Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) — Ultra-premium perfluoroelastomer for the most aggressive chemical and temperature sealing duties.

Elastomer / rubberChemical resistantHigher-temperature serviceGasket / sealingHazLoc enclosure candidate

Specialty tags

Screening hints only. Certifications (medical, food-contact, flame, HazLoc) apply to specific grades and finished equipment — verify with supplier documentation.

Chemical resistant. Often selected where chemical exposure matters — resistance is chemistry-, concentration-, and grade-dependent.
Higher-temperature service. Relative heat capability vs commodity plastics — continuous-use temperature is grade-specific.
Gasket / sealing. Commonly used for gaskets, O-rings, or weatherseals — squeeze, fluid, and compression set still need compound validation.
HazLoc enclosure candidate. Sometimes considered for industrial / hazardous-location enclosures. HazLoc is a certified equipment rating, not a material label alone.

Flexibility, sealing & button feel

Qualitative screening for gaskets, O-rings, soft goods, and rubber buttons — not datasheet values. Compounds and mold textures vary widely within each family.

Flexibility

Moderate flex

Pliability

Firm

Squeeze recovery

Excellent recovery

Gasket / seal fit

Preferred for gaskets/seals

Button / keypad fit

Limited button use

Hardness guidance

Shore A ~70–80

Sealing grades are typically medium-to-firm; soft-touch is rarely the design goal.

Feel is secondary to extreme chemical survival
Preferred gasket family only in severe service

Button hardness & texture guide

Shore A bands and texture notes are educational screening aids for buttons, keypads, and soft-touch parts — not datasheet values or mold-texture guarantees. Always specify hardness, finish, and texture on the drawing/compound sheet.

Shore A ~70–80Limited button useFirm rubber

Educational Shore A scale

Softer ~30Harder ~90

Very soft press

Shore A ~30–40

Gel-like remote keys, ultra-soft mute buttons

Soft consumer buttons

Shore A ~40–50

TV remotes, soft-touch power keys, thumb grips

Everyday keypads

Shore A ~50–60

Appliance panels, calculator-style keys, light industrial HMI

Firmer click / seals

Shore A ~60–70

Firmer keypad stops, many gaskets, durable button skirts

Firm rubber

Shore A ~70–80

Feet, hard bumpers, stiff button surrounds

Hard elastomer

Shore A ~80–90

Near-rigid rubber parts; less “squishy button” feel

Surface textures for buttons & grips

Smooth matteCommon here

Flat, low-shine face

Clean consumer look; hides fingerprints better than gloss.

Smooth gloss

Reflective, polished face

Premium sheen; shows fingerprints and micro-scratches more.

Soft-touch

Slightly draggy, skin-like surface

Velvety or rubberized feel for premium button tops and grips.

Light texture

Fine grain / light stipple

Subtle grain improves finger purchase without looking industrial.

Heavy grip texture

Deep stipple or diamond grip

Aggressive grip for tools/outdoor UIs; can feel rough.

Ribbed

Parallel ridges

Directional cues for sliders or long press zones.

Dotted / pill

Raised dots or pill centers

Tactile target for small keys; common on remotes.

Orange peel

Gentle pebbled skin

Soft diffuse texture that hides tooling marks on larger pads.

Advantages

Top-tier chemical and heat capability among elastomers
Used when FKM still is not enough
Critical sealing in harsh processes

Limitations

Very high relative cost
Lead times and grade selection are specialized
Overkill for ordinary consumer gaskets

Compatible Processes

Injection Molding

Melt resin pellets and inject into a closed mold to produce repeatable parts.

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Compression Molding

Place a charge in a heated mold and close under pressure to form thermoset or composite parts.

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