Epichlorohydrin
ASTM D1418, ISO 1629 Designations: CO, ECO, GECO
ASTM D2000, SAE J200 Type/Class: CH
Standard Color: Black
Trade Name:
- Hydrin® (Zeon Chemicals L.P.)
Relative Cost: Moderate
General Temperature Range: -55° to +275° F
Epichlorohydrin is an oil resistant compound available in three formulations: as a homopolymer (CO), as a copolymer of epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide (ECO), and as a terpolymer of epichlorohydrin, ethylene oxide, and a cure site monomer (GECO).
Epichlorohydrin combines low gas and solvent permeability with high resistance to hydrocarbon oils and fuels. Epichlorohydrin is very resistant to weathering and ozone due to complete saturation within the polymer chain.
Epichlorohydrin also remains stable during low to high temperature cycling. Because it exhibits less sub-zero stiffness, epichlorohydrin is often used in place of nitrile and chloroprene (Neoprene®) for applications where exposure to low temperatures will be a factor. At higher temperatures (250° F to 275° F), epichlorohydrin has only fair compression set resistance.
CO performs well in:
- Air conditioners
- Fuel systems
CO does not perform well in:
- Aldehydes
- Brake fluids
- Esters
- Hydrocarbons (chlorinated, nitro)
- Ketones
