Acetone Resistance in the context of rubber materials refers to the ability of a rubber compound to withstand exposure to acetone without significant degradation, swelling, softening, or loss of mechanical properties. Acetone is a strong organic solvent that can dissolve or break down certain rubber types, making resistance to it a crucial factor in applications where rubber components might come into contact with solvents.

Factors Affecting Acetone Resistance in Rubber:

1. Rubber Type:

   • Fluoroelastomers (FKM, Viton®): Excellent resistance to acetone.

   • Nitrile Rubber (NBR): Moderate resistance, but can swell over time.

   • Silicone (VMQ): Generally poor resistance, as acetone can cause swelling.

   • Natural Rubber (NR) & Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR): Poor resistance, prone to degradation.

   • EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer): Poor resistance.

2. Crosslinking & Curing: The degree of vulcanization and crosslinking affects how well a rubber resists solvent penetration.

3. Fillers & Plasticizers: Some additives can enhance or weaken acetone resistance.

Applications Where Acetone Resistance Matters:

• Chemical processing seals and gaskets

• Laboratory gloves and tubing

• Automotive fuel system components

• Industrial hoses and coatings

For environments where acetone exposure is frequent, fluoroelastomers (FKM) or PTFE-based materials are typically the best choices.