Viton™ for the Drinking Water Industry
Viton™ (FKM) fluorocarbon elastomers are used in the drinking water and potable water industry for manufacturing O-rings, gaskets, seals, and custom molded parts that must withstand chemical disinfectants, pressure cycling, and long-term exposure to treated water systems. While not the default elastomer for every potable water application, specially formulated Viton™ compounds can be engineered to meet NSF/ANSI 61 (NSF 61) requirements for specific components within municipal, industrial, and commercial water systems.
Viton™ O-rings, gaskets, and custom molded parts offer excellent resistance to oils, lubricants, ozone, weathering, and many chemicals, making them suitable for valves, pumps, meters, backflow preventers, and water treatment equipment where exposure to chlorine, chloramines, and other disinfectants is common. When properly compounded and tested, Viton™ materials can meet the strict extraction and contaminant limits required under NSF/ANSI 61 for drinking water system components.
The engineers and consultants at Canyon Components work closely with OEMs and water system designers to determine when Viton™ is appropriate for potable water use and to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Contact our expert staff for assistance selecting NSF 61–compliant Viton™ O-rings, gaskets, and custom molded parts.
Common names include: FKM (Fluorocarbon), Fluorocarbon Rubber
Trade names include: Viton™, Fluorel®, Technoflon®, Dai-El®
Features of Viton™ in Drinking Water Applications
- Viton™ O-rings, gaskets, and custom molded parts provide strong resistance to chlorine, chloramines, and common disinfectants
- Viton™ materials exhibit excellent resistance to ozone and environmental aging
- Viton™ O-rings and gaskets maintain low compression set for long-term sealing reliability
- Viton™ compounds provide stable mechanical performance under pressure cycling
- Viton™ materials are available in formulations tested for NSF/ANSI 61 compliance
- Viton™ elastomers are suitable for higher-temperature potable water applications compared to many commodity elastomers
Limitations of Viton™ in Drinking Water Service
- Viton™ O-rings, gaskets, and custom molded parts may not be the most cost-effective choice for general cold-water systems
- Viton™ materials have limited resistance to continuous steam exposure
- Not all Viton™ compounds are NSF 61 compliant — certification is compound-specific
- Viton™ service temperature range varies by compound, with a typical maximum of 437°F (225°C)
- Certain potable water applications may favor EPDM or silicone due to broader water compatibility
Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
FKM & Viton™ High Performance Polymer Types
There are many types of FKM Polymer Types that Canyon Components offers.
This includes FKM Types A, B, F, GLT, GFLT, XLT, ULT, ETP, & TBR.
The table below is a Viton™ selection guide that lays out the pluses and minuses of each variation.
Key: 1 = Excellent 2 = Good 3 = Poor 4 = Not Recommended
| Types of FKM | A | GF | GLT | GLT ED | GFLT | XLT | ETP | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon Compound Number | VT75BK00 | VT75BK20 | VT75BK30 | VT90BK31 | VT75BK40 | VT75BK50 | VT75BK60 | |||||||
| Description | General Purpose | General Purpose High Fluorine |
Low Temp | Low Temp Resistant to Explosive Decompression |
Low Temp High Fluorine |
Extreme Low Temp High Fluorine |
Viton® Extreme High Fluorine FEPM |
|||||||
| Cure Type | Bisphenol | Peroxide | Peroxide | Peroxide | Peroxide | Peroxide | Peroxide | |||||||
| Typical Fluorine Content | 66 | 69.5 | 64 | 64 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 67 | |||||||
| Typical High Temp Range °F (°C) | 437 (225) | 437 (225) | 437 (225) | 437 (225) | 437 (225) | 437 (225) | 437 (225) | |||||||
| Typical Low Temp Range °F (°C) | -15 (-26) | -15 (-26) | -40 (-40) | -40 (-40) | -35 (-37) | -54 (-48) | -6 (-21) | |||||||
| TR-10 °F (°C) | 1 (-17) | -6 (-21) | -22 (-30) | -22 (-30) | -11 (-24) | -40 (-40) | 12 (-11) | |||||||
| Oxygenated Automotive Fuels (containing MeOH, EtOH, MTBE, etc.) | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Reciprocating Engine Lubricating Oils (SE-SF Grades) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Process Fluids,Chemicals | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Aromatic Hydrocarbon Process Fluids, | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Aqueous Fluids: Water, Steam, Mineral Acids (H2SO4, HNO3, HCl, etc.) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Amines, High pH Caustics | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
FKM (Viton™) NSF 61 Certified Materials Available
This table shows many of our standard materials and links out to our O-ring store. Get in touch with us if you need a custom gasket, custom molded part, or non-standard geometry!
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Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
What Are NSF/ANSI 61–Compliant Materials?
NSF/ANSI 61 is the primary standard governing materials used in drinking water system components in North America. It evaluates the potential for contaminants to leach from materials into potable water and establishes strict extraction limits to protect public health.
Common Considerations for Drinking Water Elastomers
- Extraction Testing: Materials must pass NSF 61 extraction testing for specific water exposure conditions
- Compound-Specific Certification: NSF compliance applies to individual formulations, not generic material families
- Temperature Classification: Certification may vary based on water temperature exposure
- Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio: Component size impacts compliance testing thresholds
- Traceability: Materials must be traceable to certified formulations
- Regulatory Acceptance: NSF 61 certification is often required by municipal and state authorities
Key Standard: NSF/ANSI 61
- NSF/ANSI 61 – Drinking Water System Components: NSF/ANSI 61 establishes health-based criteria for evaluating materials in contact with drinking water. Viton™ O-rings, gaskets, and custom molded parts intended for potable water service must be manufactured from compounds that have successfully completed NSF 61 testing under the appropriate temperature and exposure categories.
NSF 61 testing evaluates:
- Extractable contaminants
- Heavy metals and volatile organic compounds
- Chemical leaching under defined temperature and exposure durations
Only compounds that pass testing for their intended use classification can be marketed as NSF 61 compliant.
Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
Drinking Water
Drinking Water Materials
Discover materials for drinking water: certified, safe options meeting rigorous health standards for distribution and storage.
NSF 61 Materials
Explore NSF 61 materials for drinking water systems, ensuring safety, compliance, and clean water in applications.
WRAS Materials
Explore WRAS materials for potable water systems, ensuring safety, compliance, and integrity across industries.
KTW Materials
Discover KTW materials for drinking water systems, ensuring safety, compliance, and reliability in potable applications.
Other Common Elastomers Used in the Drinking Water Industry
Click here to see some of our most commonly served industries!
Canyon Components supports OEMs, municipalities, and water system integrators with NSF/ANSI 61–compliant Viton™ materials, offering compound selection guidance, traceability support, and custom sealing solutions tailored to potable water requirements.
Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. Feel free to contact Canyon Components engineering and let our knowledgeable staff help you design the perfect part for your needs.
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene)
EPDM is one of the most commonly specified elastomers for potable water applications due to excellent water, steam, and disinfectant resistance. Many EPDM compounds carry NSF 61 certification for a wide range of temperatures.
NBR (Nitrile, Buna-N)
NBR is sometimes used in cost-sensitive potable water applications, though it generally has lower temperature and ozone resistance than FKM or EPDM.
Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
All Other FKM (Viton™) Types Available
Viton™ Type A – General Purpose FKM
Viton™ Type A FKM O-rings, gaskets, and custom molded parts provide balanced heat and chemical resistance. This general purpose fluorocarbon elastomer is widely used in industrial sealing applications involving fuels, oils, and hydrocarbons.
Viton™ Type B – Improved Chemical Resistance FKM
Viton™ Type B FKM offers enhanced resistance to aggressive fuels, aromatics, and chemical blends compared to Type A. This high-fluorine fluorocarbon elastomer is commonly specified in demanding fuel systems.
Viton™ Type F – Improved Chemical Resistance FKM
Viton™ Type F FKM provides superior resistance to oxygenated fuels, solvents, and aggressive chemical environments. This fluorocarbon elastomer is frequently used in automotive and industrial fuel sealing applications.
Viton™ Type GF – High Fluorine FKM
Viton™ Type GF FKM features increased fluorine content for improved resistance to fuels, biodiesel, and harsh chemicals while maintaining strong mechanical properties and sealing reliability.
Viton™ Type GLT – Low Temperature FKM
Viton™ Type GLT FKM delivers improved low-temperature flexibility compared to standard fluorocarbon elastomers, supporting sealing performance in colder climates without sacrificing chemical resistance.
Viton™ Type GFLT – Low Temperature and Chemical Resistant FKM
Viton™ Type GFLT FKM combines enhanced low-temperature flexibility with improved resistance to aggressive fuels and chemical blends, making it suitable for demanding fluorocarbon sealing applications.
Viton™ Type ETP – Specialty Chemical Resistant FKM
Viton™ Type ETP FKM provides exceptional resistance to aggressive chemicals, steam, and amines. This specialty fluorocarbon elastomer is often used in oil, gas, and chemical processing systems.
Viton™ Type ULT – Ultra Low Temperature FKM
Viton™ Type ULT FKM is engineered for ultra-low temperature environments while maintaining fluorocarbon chemical resistance, making it suitable for extreme cold industrial and aerospace sealing systems.
Viton™ Type XLT – Extreme Low Temperature FKM
Viton™ Type XLT FKM extends low-temperature sealing capability beyond GLT grades, offering reliable fluorocarbon elastomer performance in severe cold and aerospace environments.
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