Butyl Oxalate, also known as Butyl Ethoxylate, is a clear, colorless liquid with a mild odor. It is used as an emulsifying agent, as a wetting agent and as an intermediate in the manufacture of lubricants. It is also used as a solubilizing agent in the manufacture of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides.
Common types of failure when rubber is exposed to Butyl Oxalate include swelling, cracking, and the development of brittleness. Swelling occurs when the rubber absorbs the chemical and results in a deformation of the rubber. Cracking can occur due to the increased flexibility of the rubber caused by the absorption of the chemical. Brittleness is caused by the chemical breaking down the rubber molecules, resulting in a reduction in the rubber’s strength and flexibility.
Fluorosilicone o-rings are a hybrid of silicone and FKM resulting in great jet fuel resistance with high and low temperature performance. Also widely used in semiconductor Ashing equipment with strong resistance to oxygen plasma, FVMQ fluorosilicone o-rings also feature excellent flexibility, compression resistance, aging and sunlight resistance, and overall wide range of basic chemical resistance.
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