Ethylene/Acrylic elastomer (AEM, Vamac®)
Ethylene/ acrylic elastomer is a copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate plus a small amount of a curesite monomer containing carboxylic acid groups. AEM is a tough, low-compression-set rubber with excellent resistance to high temperatures, hot mineral oil, fluids and weathering. The low temperature flexibility and mechanic properties are better than ACM, but it is not well resistant to low aniline oil (like ASTM No. 3 oil) and polar solvents. AEM is typically chosen for applications requiring improved performance versus Nitrile rubber, Neoprene or reduced cost versus higher-end elastomers such as HNBR, FKM. It also usually is applied in automotive industry.
General Information
ASTM D 1418 Designation: AEM
ISO/DIN 1629 Designation: AEM
ASTM D2000 / SAE J 200 Codes: EE
Standard Color(s): Black
Hardness Range: 40 to 85 Shore A
Relative Cost: Medium- High
Cure system – Amine-Cured
Standard AEM compounds are Amine based vulcanization system.
Characteristics
- Excellent weather & ozone resistance
- Very good heat resistance
- Low compression set
- Resistant to most oils, greases (even with aggressive additives)
- Good low temperature properties
Service Temperatures
Standard Low Temperature: -30°C / -22°F
Standard High Temperature: 150°C / 300°F
Applications
Typical applications for AEM are all kind of static seals, hoses, gaskets in contact with oil as it happens in gear boxes, oil pumps, cam covers or others.
Vamac® is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance Polymers.