Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is used in many industries such as the food and beverage industry, the medical industry, and the transportation industry. In the food and beverage industry, it is used as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages, a flavoring agent, and a preservative. In the medical industry, it is used as a disinfectant, an antiseptic, and a topical anesthetic. In the transportation industry, it is used as a fuel additive and as a solvent.
When rubber is exposed to ethanol, it can cause swelling, discoloration, or cracking. Swelling happens when the ethanol molecules penetrate the rubber, causing it to become softer and expand. Discoloration occurs when the ethanol molecules interact with the rubber molecules and cause a visible change in color. Cracking may occur if the rubber is exposed to ethanol for too long, as the ethanol molecules can cause the rubber to become brittle and crack.
EPDM o-rings, or ethylene propylene o-rings, are a family of synthetic elastomers with lower cost steam and chemical resistance, particularly for applications involving solvents, acids and other mild chemicals. Marco Rubber has the world’s largest inventory network of EPDM o-rings and made on demand custom manufacturing often without tooling fees, so the EPDM o-rings you need are always available. Whether it’s for water systems, braking systems, medical, pharmaceutical, food or dairy use, you can count on Marco Rubber to deliver your o-rings fast and efficiently.
View some of our other material compatibility ratings with ETHANOL WITH ACETIC ACID, FERMENTATION MIXTURE. 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.
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