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It’s challenging to design equipment that will be used in high temperature and other severe food processing applications. That’s because these applications require durable materials that meet the strict requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We’re excited to announce that three grades of our AFLAS fluoroelastomers are now FDA approved food contact.
FDA-Compliant AFLAS Grades
The FDA granted Food Contact Notifications for AFLAS Series 150P, 100S, and 100H fluoroelastomers. These fluoroelastomer grades are now listed in the Inventory of Effective Food Contact Notifications. They can now be used for parts of food processing equipment including:
- Seals
- Sanitary gaskets
- O-rings
- Valve seats
- Roll covers
A Superior Material Choice versus Silicone, EPDM, FKM, and FFKM
When every penny counts you need a product that offers high performance at a reasonable cost. AFLAS fluoroelastomers are less costly than FFKMS. They are also very clean materials that maintain their elasticity and withstand repeated use in high temperatures. They also resist abrasion. When compared to FKMs and traditional sealing materials like silicone and EPDM, AFLAS grades are more resistant to steam, ozone, strong acids and bases. This makes them an ideal material choice for caustic cleaning and sterilization equipment.
AFLAS fluoroelastomers 150P, 100S and 100H are copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and propylene (P). They are intended for repeat-use food contact applications with FDA temperature conditions A-H and all food types. These grades comply with the provisions of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21, Section 177.2600, which identifies substances that can be safely used in rubber articles that come into contact with food.
For more information on incorporating AFLAS fluoroelastomers into your application, contact an AGC product expert today.