Hydrogen sulfide is also known as sulfane, dihydrogen sulfide, and hydrosulfuric acid. It is a colorless, highly toxic gas with a characteristic rotten egg smell. It is commonly used in the oil and gas industry for sulfur removal and as a fuel additive. It is also used in wastewater treatment and as a preservative in certain foods.
When rubber is exposed to hydrogen sulfide, it can cause the rubber to become brittle and crack. This is especially true when the rubber is exposed to cold, wet conditions. The sulfur and other chemicals in the hydrogen sulfide can also corrode and degrade rubber, leading to premature failure. Furthermore, hydrogen sulfide can cause rubber to become sticky and tacky, making it difficult to work with and creating a safety hazard.
Buna-N o-rings also referred to as NBR o-rings and Nitrile o-rings are the most widely used o-ring material in the word because of low cost, good mechanical performance with resistance to water, most basic oils, lubricants and some fuels, many pneumatic, hydraulic systems, and the default choice for basic applications. Buna-N o-rings are not recommended for exposure to sunlight, UV light, ozone and general outdoor weathering or hash chemicals, acids, keytones and many others.
View some of our other material compatibility ratings with HYDROGEN SULFIDE, WET COLD. 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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