INNOCHILL · Technology
Material Compatibility
Metals, elastomers, plastics, cables, seals and fluid interaction.
Thermal Fluids
Material compatibility is a system property. A fluid that meets its initial thermal specification can still fail the application if it attacks metals, seals, hoses, plastics, cables, adhesives or electronic materials.
Quick AnswerCompatibility must be assessed against the actual material grade, fluid chemistry, temperature, exposure time and mechanical condition. Generic statements such as “compatible with rubber” are not sufficiently precise for engineering qualification.
Material groups
01
Metals
Aluminum, copper, brass, steel and stainless steel may require corrosion and galvanic-interaction assessment.
02
Elastomers
EPDM, IIR, NBR, silicone and other seals can change volume, hardness, tensile properties or elongation.
03
Plastics & Polymers
Housings, tubing and connectors can respond differently to glycol, hydrocarbon, ester or silicone-based chemistries.
04
Electronic Materials
Immersion systems add cables, PCB materials, adhesives, coatings and connectors to the compatibility matrix.
What a useful compatibility report includes
- Exact material designation
- Fluid grade and batch
- Exposure temperature and duration
- Mass / volume / hardness or mechanical-property change
- Visual observations such as cracking, swelling or surface degradation
- Acceptance criterion and test method