VMQ Silicone O-Rings
Food-grade, medical-grade and extreme-temperature sealing solutions from -60C to +200C.
Overview
VMQ (Vinyl Methyl Silicone), commonly called Silicone rubber, is the material of choice for applications requiring wide temperature flexibility, food safety compliance, or biocompatibility. Unlike NBR and FKM, VMQ is not intended for petroleum oil sealing, but it excels in dry heat, steam, polar solvents, and clean-environment applications.
Silicone O-rings operate reliably from -60C to +200C, with specialty grades extending to +230C for short-term service. The material maintains flexibility at cryogenic temperatures where hydrocarbon elastomers would embrittle, making it essential for aerospace, refrigeration, and medical device applications.
At O-Ring Supply Co., we supply FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 compliant silicone O-rings for food processing and USP Class VI grades for medical equipment. Standard colors include translucent, red, and blue, with custom colors available for identification and branding.
Material Properties
| Temperature Range | -60C to +200C (-76F to +392F) |
| Hardness Range | 30-80 Shore A |
| Tensile Strength | 5-10 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 200-800% |
| Compression Set (70h/175C) | <=30% |
| Specific Gravity | 1.10-1.50 |
| Color (standard) | Translucent or Red |
| Compliance | FDA, USP Class VI, RoHS |
Typical Applications
Food & Beverage
Processing equipment seals, filling machine O-rings, and dairy handling systems requiring FDA compliance
Medical Devices
Respiratory equipment, drug delivery systems, and surgical instrument seals requiring biocompatibility
Aerospace
Low-temperature fuel system seals, cabin pressure seals, and cryogenic service
Automotive
Cooling system seals, thermostat housings, and lighting system gaskets
Electronics
Connector seals, enclosure gaskets, and thermal management systems
Chemical Compatibility Summary
Compatible With
- - Water and steam
- - Dilute acids and alkalis
- - Animal and vegetable oils
- - Ozone and weathering
- - Some petroleum oils (special grades)
Incompatible With
- - Concentrated acids and alkalis
- - Aromatic hydrocarbons
- - Chlorinated solvents
- - Petroleum oils (general purpose)
- - Superheated steam
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Extreme Temperature Range
VMQ maintains elastomeric properties from -60C cryogenic conditions to +200C dry heat. No other standard elastomer matches this combination of low-temperature flexibility and high-temperature stability.
FDA and Medical Compliance
Standard grades meet FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for repeated food contact. Medical grades are available with USP Class VI certification and cytotoxicity testing for pharmaceutical and healthcare applications.
Excellent UV and Ozone Resistance
Silicone rubber is inherently resistant to oxidation, ozone, and weathering. Outdoor and UV-exposed applications benefit from decades of service life without surface cracking.
Low Toxicity and Odor
Platinum-cured silicone grades release minimal volatiles, making them suitable for sensitive applications in food, medical, and semiconductor manufacturing environments.
Frequently Asked Questions - VMQ
Can silicone O-rings be used with petroleum oils?
No. Standard VMQ silicone swells severely in petroleum-based oils, fuels, and most hydrocarbon solvents. For oil sealing, specify NBR or FKM instead.
What is the difference between VMQ and FVMQ?
VMQ is standard vinyl methyl silicone. FVMQ (Fluorosilicone) adds fluorine groups to the polymer backbone, giving it improved fuel and oil resistance while retaining silicone's wide temperature range.
Are your silicone O-rings FDA compliant?
Yes. We supply FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 compliant silicone O-rings for food and beverage applications. Certificates of conformance are available on request.
What colors are available for silicone O-rings?
Standard colors are translucent and red. Blue, white, green, yellow, and custom Pantone colors are available on request, typically with a short lead time.
Is VMQ suitable for steam applications?
VMQ has good resistance to dry steam up to about 150C. For saturated steam above 150C, EPDM is generally the better material choice due to its hydrolysis resistance.