This image was created with artificial intelligence – marked under Art. 50 of the AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. It is a placeholder until the company's photos arrive.Heat-resistant seals compared for industrial applications
Which seal withstands heat? Comparison of the most important materials for industrial applications with clear selection guidance.
Quickly find the right seal
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Oil + up to 120 °C | NBR seals |
| Water/steam + up to 150 °C | EPDM seals |
| Chemicals + up to 250 °C | FKM seals or PTFE seals |
| Food + heat | Silicone |
| >300 °C | Graphite |
Heat-resistant seals keep industrial processes safe under permanently high thermal and mechanical load. In real applications, temperature, medium and mechanical influences act on the material simultaneously. This creates a complex load that can only be reliably controlled with a precisely matched material selection.
A seal only performs its task permanently if it retains its dimensional stability, elasticity and chemical resistance under the specific operating conditions. Even small deviations in material selection or installation situation lead in practice to leaks, increased wear or premature failure.
Would you like the right seal for your application? We examine temperature, medium and load in detail and recommend a technically suitable solution including precise cut to size by waterjet cutting.
Requirements for heat-resistant seals in industry
Industrial sealing systems are rarely subjected to only a single factor. Rather, the actual load arises from the interaction of several influencing variables that reinforce one another.
Temperature profile Besides the pure maximum value, the temperature profile plays a central role. Heating phases, cooling cycles and sustained temperature plateaus lead to material fatigue and structural changes. Elastomers react far more sensitively to sustained load than to short-term peaks.
Media contact The type of medium directly influences the material structure. Oils and fuels lead to swelling, while chemicals leach additives out of the material or trigger chemical decomposition processes. Mixed media are particularly critical, as several effects occur simultaneously here.
Mechanical loads Pressure, movement and friction act permanently on the seal. Micro-relative movements between components generate abrasion, while pressure changes lead to material deformation. The correct surface pressure is decisive for the sealing effect.
Environmental influences Oxygen, ozone and UV radiation accelerate ageing processes. In hot, dry environments, the likelihood of embrittlement and cracking increases significantly.
Practical examples from industry
Conveyor system with oil and 180 °C In this combination, NBR leads to rapid ageing and seal failure. FKM shows a significantly more stable performance, as it withstands both temperature and oil in the long term and thus reduces maintenance intervals.
Steam line in heating systems EPDM offers a reliable solution here, as it has a high resistance to hot water and steam and retains its elasticity even under prolonged thermal load.
Chemical plant at 220 °C PTFE or FKM are used, depending on pressure and installation situation. PTFE offers maximum chemical resistance, while FKM shows advantages in elastic sealing and dynamic loads.
Furnace system above 300 °C Graphite is the preferred material here, as it tolerates extreme temperatures and pressure permanently and at the same time enables a stable sealing effect.
Materials in comparison
NBR (nitrile rubber)
NBR is used primarily in oil-containing applications and offers a reliable sealing effect at moderate temperatures. The material shows good performance especially in hydraulic systems. Under sustained heat above 120 °C, however, ageing increases significantly, which clearly defines the application limits. Further reading: NBR seals
EPDM
EPDM is characterised by high resistance to water, steam and weathering. The material remains elastic even under thermal load and is particularly suitable for heating systems and outdoor applications. Contact with oil, however, leads to severe swelling and loss of function. Details: EPDM seals
FKM (Viton)
FKM is one of the most high-performance elastomers in the industrial environment. It combines high temperature resistance with very good chemical resistance and is suitable for demanding applications in chemicals, automotive and mechanical engineering. The material structure remains stable even under long-term load. More on this: FKM seals
Silicone
Silicone offers high flexibility over a wide temperature range and remains elastic even under heat. This makes it particularly suitable for applications in food and medical technology. However, its mechanical load capacity is lower than that of FKM.
PTFE
PTFE is chemically almost inert and shows very high temperature resistance. Due to its low elasticity, it is used primarily in static sealing systems or combined with additional elements. Application areas: PTFE seals
Graphite
Graphite is used at extreme temperatures and high pressure loads. The material shows very little ageing and adapts well to sealing surfaces, which is why it is frequently used in energy plants and high-temperature processes.
Selection matrix for typical applications
| Application | Temperature | Medium | Recommended material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic system | up to 120 °C | Oil | NBR |
| Heating system / steam line | up to 150 °C | Water, steam | EPDM |
| Chemical plant | up to 250 °C | aggressive media | FKM / PTFE |
| Food technology | up to 200 °C | neutral media | Silicone |
| High-temperature system | 300 °C+ | various media | Graphite |
Comparison table
| Material | Temperature range | Media resistance | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBR | up to 120 °C | Oil, grease | Mechanical engineering |
| EPDM | up to 150 °C | Water, steam | Heating systems |
| FKM | up to 250 °C | Chemicals, oil | Industrial plants |
| Silicone | up to 250 °C | Food | Medical, food |
| PTFE | up to 260 °C | almost all media | Chemicals |
| Graphite | up to 500+ °C | many media | High temperature |
Typical mistakes in selection
- Temperature peaks and sustained load assessed incorrectly
- Medium assessed too generally
- Mechanical load ignored
- Material selected on price alone
- Factors not considered together
Dynamic vs. static
Static seals work without movement between the components and allow the use of materials such as PTFE or graphite. Dynamic applications, on the other hand, require elastic materials that can compensate for movements and at the same time ensure a constant sealing effect.
Service life and durability
The service life of a seal depends heavily on the specific application. A precise match of material, installation and operating conditions can considerably extend the durability and at the same time reduce maintenance costs.
Limits of the materials
Every material shows clear limits under certain conditions. FKM ages faster in a combination of heat and aggressive chemicals, EPDM loses stability on contact with oil and PTFE requires design adaptations due to its low elasticity.
Decision aid
The selection of a heat-resistant seal results from the interaction of temperature profile, medium and mechanical load. For robust results, a structured selection process is recommended.
1. Record the temperature precisely Determine continuous operation, peak values and cyclic operation. Sustained loads determine ageing, peaks define safety reserves. Define a realistic operating range and allow for a reserve.
2. Assess the medium in detail Define composition, concentration and possible mixed media. Check swelling behaviour, chemical resistance and extraction effects. For aggressive media, FKM or PTFE offer stable solutions, for water and steam EPDM.
3. Analyse mechanics and installation situation Determine surface pressure, pressure level, pressure changes and possible relative movements. Dynamic applications require elastic materials with recovery capacity, static applications allow PTFE or graphite.
4. Match design and tolerances Assess seal geometry, surface roughness and fits. Uniform pressure, clean flange surfaces and precisely fitting cut pieces increase the sealing effect and durability.
5. Select and verify the material Select the material based on the available parameters and verify suitability using data sheets, references and, where applicable, application tests under real conditions.
Practical quick assignment
- Oil + moderate heat → NBR or FKM depending on temperature
- Steam/hot water → EPDM
- Chemicals + high temperature → FKM or PTFE
- Very high temperatures >300 °C → Graphite
An application-related assessment reduces failure risks, extends maintenance intervals and increases process reliability.
Direct enquiry: We analyse your application in detail and provide a concrete material recommendation including precise cut to size.
Frequently asked questions
Which seal is suitable for high temperatures?
For high temperatures, FKM, PTFE or graphite are used depending on the application. The decisive factor is the combination of temperature, medium and mechanical load.
Which seal is suitable for steam?
EPDM offers very good resistance to hot water and steam and is frequently used in heating systems and industrial steam applications.
Which seal withstands oil and heat at the same time?
FKM is the preferred solution for a combination of high temperatures and oil-containing media, as it remains stable both thermally and chemically.
When should PTFE be used?
PTFE is particularly suitable for aggressive chemicals and high temperatures, especially in static applications or in combination with other sealing systems.
What influences the service life of a seal the most?
The service life is determined primarily by temperature, medium, mechanical load and the installation situation. An incorrect combination of these factors quickly leads to failures.
What is the most common mistake when selecting seals?
Often only the temperature is considered, while the medium and mechanical load are taken into account insufficiently. Yet it is precisely this combination that determines the actual function.
Our rubber sheets
For industry and trade, we offer a wide variety of rubber sheets.
SBR rubber sheet
Our high-quality SBR rubber sheet (styrene-butadiene rubber) is the solution for numerous industrial and commercial applications. This rubber sheet is manufactured from first-class styrene-butadiene rubber and is characterised by its outstanding physical properties.
EPDM rubber sheet
Discover the versatility and reliability of our EPDM rubber sheet, which is manufactured from ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM). This high-quality elastomer solution has been specially developed to meet the most demanding industrial and commercial applications.
NBR rubber sheet
The NBR rubber sheet is a high-quality industrial product that has been specially developed for applications requiring excellent resistance to oils, greases and various chemicals.
Viton rubber sheet
The Viton rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is used for a wide range of industrial applications. Manufactured from fluoro rubber (FKM), it offers outstanding properties that make it the ideal choice for extreme conditions.
FKM rubber sheet
The FKM rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is ideal for use in demanding industrial applications. Made from fluoro rubber (FKM), it is characterised by a wide range of outstanding properties that make it the optimum choice for extreme operating conditions.
Silicone rubber sheet
The silicone rubber sheet is a first-class technical product that has been specially developed for applications placing high demands on temperature resistance and flexibility.
PUR rubber sheet
The PUR rubber sheet, made from high-quality polyurethane, is a technically advanced product that has been developed for applications placing the highest demands on abrasion resistance and mechanical load capacity.
Neoprene rubber sheet
The neoprene rubber sheet, manufactured from high-quality chloroprene rubber (CR), is a versatile technical product that is ideal for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
