Rubber — Compatibility between hydraulic fluids and standard elastomeric materials

ISO 6072:2011 specifies test methods for evaluating the effect of hydraulic fluids on standard elastomeric materials that have been manufactured in accordance with specified processes. It allows baseline comparisons of fluids with standard elastomers.

The standard provides formulations, mixing procedures and vulcanization procedures for five types of elastomeric composition: acrylonitrile-butadiene rubbers (NBR 1 and NBR 2), fluorocarbon rubber (FKM 2), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM 1) and hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR 1).

These procedures evaluate the effect of mineral-based, fire-resistant and biodegradable hydraulic fluids on such compositions by measurement, under controlled conditions, of physical properties of standard test pieces of the elastomer before and after immersion in the fluids.

The standard does not provide formulations of elastomeric materials for actual service, although service elastomers may be tested using these compatibility procedures if required.