Acetone Resistant O-Rings
Compatibility ratings for 7 O-ring materials in Acetone service
Acetone is a polar ketone solvent and the classic material-selection trap: both NBR and FKM fail here (D and C), while EPDM, PTFE and FFKM rate A. Ketone service belongs to EPDM — one of the few fluids where FKM is the wrong answer.
Acetone (Solvents) compatibility with the seven most common O-ring elastomers, rated on the standard A/B/C/D scale: A = excellent, B = good, C = fair, D = not recommended. This data also appears in our interactive chemical compatibility chart and is available machine-readable at /api/chemicals.json.
| Material | Rating | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| NBR | D | not recommended — rapid degradation expected |
| FKM | C | fair — conditional use, verify with testing |
| EPDM | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| VMQ | C | fair — conditional use, verify with testing |
| PTFE | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| FFKM | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| HNBR | D | not recommended — rapid degradation expected |
Why These Ratings
- NBR (D) — documented weaknesses include “Polar solvents (ketones, esters).”
- FKM (C) — documented weaknesses include “Polar solvents (ketones, esters).”
- EPDM (A) — documented strengths include “Polar solvents.”
- PTFE (A) — documented strengths include “Virtually all chemicals.”
- FFKM (A) — documented strengths include “Ketones and esters.”
- HNBR (D) — documented weaknesses include “Polar solvents (ketones, esters).”
SolventsService: Concentration & Temperature Notes
Match solvent polarity to polymer polarity. Ketones and esters (polar) destroy NBR and FKM but suit EPDM; aromatic and chlorinated solvents (non-polar) do the reverse. Aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane and heptane are the mildest — NBR rates B to A. Solvent swell is largely concentration-independent, but temperature accelerates both fluid uptake and plasticizer extraction.
Recommended
- EPDM O-rings (A)
- PTFE O-rings (A)
- FFKM O-rings (A)
Use With Caution
- FKM O-rings (C)
- VMQ O-rings (C)
Avoid
- NBR (D)
- HNBR (D)
Related Chemicals (Solvents)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acetone compatible with FKM (Viton) O-rings?
FKM is rated C for Acetone: fair — conditional use, verify with testing. Ratings are general guidelines; concentration, temperature and exposure time all affect real-world compatibility, so validate critical applications with ASTM D471 immersion testing.
Is Acetone compatible with NBR (nitrile) O-rings?
NBR is rated D for Acetone: not recommended — rapid degradation expected. NBR is the lowest-cost elastomer, so when it earns an A or B rating it is usually the economical default; when it rates C or D, do not substitute it for a higher-rated material to save cost.
Can I use PTFE O-rings with Acetone?
PTFE is rated A for Acetone: excellent — recommended for continuous service. Remember that PTFE has no elastic memory — in demanding service it needs spring energization or an elastomer core (FEP/PFA encapsulation) to maintain sealing force.
What is the best O-ring material for Acetone?
EPDM, PTFE, FFKM are rated A (excellent) for Acetone in our compatibility data and are the recommended starting point for material selection. Final selection should also account for operating temperature, pressure and whether the seal is static or dynamic.
Can I use EPDM O-rings with Acetone?
EPDM is rated A for Acetone: excellent — recommended for continuous service. Always confirm the specific fluid concentration and temperature before specifying EPDM for this service.
Need O-Rings for Acetone Service?
Send us your fluid, concentration and temperature — our engineers will confirm the right compound. MOQ 1 piece.