Tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, also known as TMAH, is a strong base used for various applications in the chemical industry. It is used as a catalyst in the production of polymers, as a cleaning agent, and as a base for pH adjustment.
When rubber is exposed to TMAH, it can lead to a variety of failure modes. These include swelling, softening, cracking, discoloration, and embrittlement. The extent of damage depends on the type of rubber, the concentration of TMAH, and the length of time it is exposed to the chemical. Natural rubber is typically more resistant to TMAH than synthetic rubber, with neoprene being the most resistant. Additionally, prolonged exposure can lead to corrosion of metal parts that are in contact with the rubber.
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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