Authorized Distributor of Parker O-Rings, Parker Seals and Parker Products
Authorized Distributor of Parker O-Rings, Parker Seals and Parker Products
In 1998, the Society of Aerospace Engineers (SAE) issued Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 5316. It was intended to fully replace Mil-HDBK-695C as the industry standard for the shelf life of aerospace elastomeric seals. However, ARP 5316 can also be used as a useful guideline for shelf life of many industrial and commercial grade elastomers as well. The information in ARP 5316, and the chart below, is intended to be utilized by those organizations that do not already have specific recommendations for the control of elastomeric seals. It should be noted that the packaging of the elastomeric seals prior to assembly into a product is an integral part of the controlled storage procedure. It provides a positive means of product identity from the time of manufacture, to the time of assembly.
ARP 5316 does not establish limitations for storage times in assembled components, nor does it in any way provide a guideline for the operating lifespan of a particular compound.
| ELASTOMER FAMILY | ASTM Abbreviation |
ARP 5316 Recommended ShelfLife |
| Aflas® | Unlimited | |
| Butyl rubber,Isobutylene isoprene | IIR | Unlimited |
| Chloroprene (Neoprene®) | CR | 15 Years |
| Epichlorohydrin (Hydrin®) | ECO | NA |
| Ethylene Acrylic (Vamac®) | AEM | 15 Years |
| Ethylene Propylene (EP or EPDM) | EP | Unlimited |
| Fluorocarbon (Viton®) | FKM | Unlimited |
| Fluorosilicone | FVQM | Unlimited |
| Hydrogenated Nitrile, (HNBR or HSN) | HNBR | 15 Years |
| Nitrile (Buna-N or NBR) | NBR | 15 Years |
| Polyacrylate | ACM | 15 Years |
| Polyurethane (Polyester or Polyether) | AU / EU | 5 Years |
| Silicone | VQM | Unlimited |
| Styrene Butadiene (Buna-S) | SBR | 15 Years |
| Elastomer Family Perfluorinated Elastomer, Also See | FFKM | Unlimited |
