Radiation Resistance
K•Prene® urethane has excellent resistance to the damaging effects of gamma ray radiation in comparison with other elastomers and plastics. Products of K•Prene® appear capable of giving satisfactory service even when exposed to high gamma ray concentration of up to 100 megaroentgens. They are more resistant than are other elastomers to stress cracking and retain a great amount of their original flexibility and physical toughness while exposed to gamma radiation. As a result, K•Prene® can be used to provide radiation protection in atomic reactor installations, x-ray laboratories, and aerospace facilities.
Oil and Solvent Resistance
Oil resistance is the ability of a part to retain utility in contact with oil. There are two effects which commonly occur. The first is a change in dimensions or swelling, and the second is deterioration of the material’s original properties. K•Prene® has excellent oil resistance which makes its products particularly suitable for service in the presence of lubricating oils and greases. K•Prene® will resist animal fats and oils, waxes, greases, and most aliphatic hydrocarbons. Aromatic hydrocarbons and polar or chlorinated solvents have a moderate to severe effect on K•Prene®. It is recommended that tests be made beforehand if the application under consideration will involve direct contact with oils as sometimes oil additives attack the material.
Chemical Resistance
The best way to determine whether or not the product will be entirely satisfactory for a given application is to test it in actual service. Where this is not practical, simulated tests should be devised to duplicate actual service conditions as closely as possible. Acrotech should be provided with complete details on the conditions involved or the intended application to insure that the parts are correctly compounded and processed to provide successful resistance against chemical attack.
The A, B and C ratings (in the table) are based upon data from laboratory tests and records of actual service performance. Where specific information is not available, T and X ratings are indicated. These are educated guesses based upon experience and a familiarity with the chemistry involved. T means, “Test before using but most likely to be satisfactory”. X means, “Most likely to be unsatisfactory”.
Unless otherwise noted, all ratings are at room temperature and the concentrations of all aqueous solutions may be considered saturated. In the case where parenthetical temperatures are listed, they refer to temperatures actually used in tests or service applications, but do no necessarily represent temperature limits.
(A) Little of no effect; (B) Minor to moderate effect; (C) Severe effect to complete destruction; (T) Test before using, No data but most likely to be satisfactory; (X) No data, but most likely to be unsatisfactory