Set of Viton O-rings for pump and autosampler sealing points. Viton is a fluoroelastomer (FKM) and is the default seal material in analytical instruments because it holds up to most aqueous buffers, dilute acids, alcohols and aliphatic solvents over a wide temperature range.
It has a well-defined blind spot. Ketones such as acetone, esters, tetrahydrofuran and some amines swell and soften FKM; where a method uses those routinely, a perfluoroelastomer or a PTFE-based seal is the correct choice instead. Using Viton there does not fail immediately - it fails after a few weeks, which makes the cause harder to see.
How O-rings fail
- Compression set: the ring hardens and keeps the shape of the groove, so it no longer springs back and a slow leak starts.
- Swelling from an incompatible solvent, so the ring will not sit in the groove on reassembly.
- Nicks from being rolled over a threaded edge during fitting.
O-rings are fitted dry or with the lubricant the manual specifies, never stretched over sharp threads, and are replaced as a set rather than singly when a head is opened.
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Specifications
| Shimadzu part number | 227-350005-01 |
|---|---|
| Material | Viton fluoroelastomer (FKM) |
| Good with | Aqueous buffers, dilute acids, alcohols, aliphatic solvents |
| Not for | Ketones, esters, THF, some amines |
| Typical service range | approx. -20 to 200 °C |
| Used at | Pump and autosampler sealing points |
| Failure mode | Compression set, swelling, nicks on fitting |
| Listed for | Agilent, Shimadzu, Thermo Scientific, Waters (Shimadzu LC-2030C Plus and Nexera X2 listed by model) |
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