Hexane Resistant O-Rings

Compatibility ratings for 7 O-ring materials in Hexane service

At a glance:A× 3B× 2C× 0D× 2— 3 of 7 materials recommended for Hexane

Hexane (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	B	good — suitable for most applications
FKM	A	excellent — recommended for continuous service
EPDM	D	not recommended — rapid degradation expected
VMQ	D	not recommended — rapid degradation expected
PTFE	A	excellent — recommended for continuous service
FFKM	A	excellent — recommended for continuous service
HNBR	B	good — suitable for most applications

Why These Ratings

FKM (A) — documented strengths include “Aromatic hydrocarbons.”
EPDM (D) — documented weaknesses include “Hydrocarbon fuels.”
VMQ (D) — documented weaknesses include “Aromatic hydrocarbons.”
PTFE (A) — documented strengths include “Virtually all chemicals.”
FFKM (A) — documented strengths include “Virtually all chemicals except molten alkali metals.”

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.

Use With Caution

NBR O-rings (B)
HNBR O-rings (B)

Avoid

EPDM (D)
VMQ (D)

Engineering note: ratings are general guidelines based on typical exposure conditions. Fluid concentration, temperature, pressure and exposure time can shift compatibility by a full grade or more. For critical service, validate the actual compound with ASTM D471 immersion testing before production use. Selecting across multiple chemicals? See the chemical-resistant O-ring selection guide for a material-first comparison.

Related Chemicals (Solvents)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hexane compatible with FKM (Viton) O-rings?

FKM is rated A for Hexane: excellent — recommended for continuous service. Ratings are general guidelines; concentration, temperature and exposure time all affect real-world compatibility, so validate critical applications with ASTM D471 immersion testing.

Is Hexane compatible with NBR (nitrile) O-rings?

NBR is rated B for Hexane: good — suitable for most applications. 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 Hexane?

PTFE is rated A for Hexane: 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 Hexane?

FKM, PTFE, FFKM are rated A (excellent) for Hexane 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 Hexane?

EPDM is rated D for Hexane: not recommended — rapid degradation expected. Always confirm the specific fluid concentration and temperature before specifying EPDM for this service.

Need O-Rings for Hexane Service?

Send us your fluid, concentration and temperature — our engineers will confirm the right compound. MOQ 1 piece.

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