Why Seal Material Choice Matters
The seal is the most common failure point on any sanitary valve. In our Wenzhou, China facility, we manufacture valves with four seal families: EPDM, FPM/Viton, PTFE, and Silicone. Each has a specific operating window for temperature and chemical compatibility.
EPDM: The Workhorse
EPDM is our default for food, dairy, and beverage applications. Temperature: -20°C to 120°C. Tested 50,000 cycles at 10 bar in 80°C water — zero leakage.
FPM/Viton: For Heat and Chemicals
FPM handles oils, hydrocarbons, concentrated acids. Temperature: -10°C to 180°C. For liquid cooling — we recorded 18% EPDM swell in dielectric fluid; FPM showed zero.
PTFE: For Purity
PTFE is chemically nearly inert. Temperature: -20°C to 200°C. For aggressive chemicals and high-purity pharma. Requires controlled torque.
Silicone: For High Temperature Flexibility
Silicone from -50°C to 180°C. Used in SIP applications.
Selection Guide
Water/steam: EPDM. CIP: EPDM (peroxide-crosslinked). Oils: FPM. Acids: PTFE. Dielectric coolant: FPM. Food/dairy: EPDM. Pharma: PTFE or Silicone.
FAQ
Q: Default seal material? Peroxide-crosslinked EPDM.
Q: Replacement interval? 12 months standard, 6 months for high-cycle CIP/SIP.
Technical Review
Zhang Wei, Senior Valve Engineer. onemo@onemoss.com
