


Viton® (FKM) O-Rings—How to Make an Informed Decision
Viton® o-rings are also referred to as FKM o-rings since they are made of fluorocarbon elastomers. FKM is short for Fluro-Elastomer and is a copolymer made of highly fluorinated hydrocarbons. However, not all FKMs are genuine Viton® o-rings. This post will walk you through a series of questions, and the answers will help you make […]
Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)—What You Need to Know
Production Part Approval Process, or PPAP, is widely used in the manufacturing industry. You are probably familiar with the concept if you are a Design or Applications Engineer, Manager of Quality Control, or an MRO professional at a manufacturing company. This post is a summary of PPAP in case you are unfamiliar or need a […]
What is Vulcanization and Vulcanized Rubber?
Vulcanized rubber is much stronger than traditional rubber. It can withstand greater pressure and stress and is much more elastic, which is why many manufacturers prefer using vulcanized rubber in their businesses. Vulcanized rubber’s increased strength and elasticity allow it to be stretched to a much greater degree without warping or becoming deformed. Vulcanization also […]
HNBR Supply Chain Tightening
Global availability of HNBR, and subsequently HNBR o-rings, has been greatly challenged throughout 2021 due to the closure of a major production facility, which stopped production in the wake of a natural disaster. This, coupled with significant demand growth, is further tightening the market for this synthetic rubber. The global market for HNBR is primarily […]