Coconut oil, also known as copra oil, is a vegetable oil extracted from the flesh of mature coconuts. It is widely used in cooking and baking, as well as in beauty products and pharmaceuticals. In the rubber industry, coconut oil is commonly used as a plasticizer, helping to reduce the stiffness of the rubber material and improve its flexibility.
When rubber is exposed to coconut oil, it can cause swelling, softening, and other changes to the rubber's physical properties, depending on the formulation of the oil. Additionally, it can reduce the rubber's tensile strength, leading to cracking, splitting, and other forms of mechanical damage. Furthermore, coconut oil can react with certain rubber compounds to form corrosive compounds, which can further weaken the rubber and cause permanent damage.
Viton ® o-rings from Marco Rubber offer excellent compatibility with a range of chemicals, oils and resist high temperatures up to 400F. Viton ® is also known as FKM made of fluoroelastomer one of the most versatile and widely used sealing materials.
View some of our other material compatibility ratings with COCONUT OIL. If you don't see what you're looking for or need more guidance, our team of experienced sealing design engineers can help select the best sealing products and material for your specific application.
View Full Chemical Compatibility Guide