Permeability of common elastomers for gases over a range of temperatures

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Abstract
For elastomers to be used in vacuum applications, their permeability should be low. Elastomers that are now, or likely to be, used in vacuum have been studied. The permeability of copolymers of fluoroelastomers and PTFE propylene (AFLAS) and a homopolymer of epichlorohydrin have been measured for hydrogen, helium, argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor in the temperature range 20 to 120 °C. The test apparatus consisted of a restrained elastomer diaphragm with a pressure differential across it of normally 1 atm. The gas permeating is detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The results obtained agree with already published values when they exist. The work further shows that for a given elastomer the temperature/permeability relation differs from gas to gas. The correlating of the measured permeability to the practical case of O-ring gaskets used in a vacuum system is discussed.

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