Camlock (cam & groove) couplings are widely used for quick, secure hose connections in industries such as chemical transfer, fuel handling, water treatment and general bulk fluid transfer. A critical component in a camlock coupling assembly is the seal (also known as a gasket/gasket ring), which ensures a leak-tight interface between the male and female halves. The choice of seal material has a major impact on chemical compatibility, temperature tolerance, durability, and cost. Below is an overview of the four common types of camlock seals: PTFE, EPDM, Buna, and Viton, as well as what each is best suited for, and how they compare. Seals are only present inside the Type B, Type C, Type D & Type DC couplings in Polypropylene, Aluminium, Brass and Stainless Steel.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is extremely inert, it has high chemical resistance and very low friction, as well as boasting a wide temperature range.

• Chemical Compatibility: Excellent - resists acids, alkalies, solvents, aggressive chemicals, and most corrosive media.
• Temperature Range: Typically -200°C to +260°C.
• Mechanical Resistance: Less flexible/“softer” sealing pressure than elastomers; may require stronger mechanical compression to seal reliably. More brittle under mechanical stress or vibration.
• Limitations: Lower sealing “give” than rubber; less able to absorb shock or vibration; more costly; limited for abrasive slurries unless backed by elastomer support.

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a good general-purpose seal. It has moderate chemical resistance and good flexibility.

• Chemical Compatibility: Strong for water, steam, many acids, bases, polar solvents; poor for hydrocarbons, oils, fuels, and many solvents.
• Temperature Range: Typically –40°C to +120–150 °C.
• Mechanical Resistance: Good elasticity, resilience, ability to absorb vibration and moderate mechanical fit variation.
• Limitations: Not suitable for petroleum oils, fuels, aromatic or chlorinated solvents, strong oxidisers, or aggressive chemicals that degrade elastomers.

Buna seals are a Nitrile Rubber (also known as NBR). They exhibit strong resistance to oils and fuels, making them a suitable general-purpose rubber for hydrocarbon media.

• Chemical Compatibility: Very good for petroleum-based fluids, oils, gasoline, and hydraulic fluids. Moderate resistance to some solvents; poor to ketones, strong acids, ozone, and some chemicals.
• Temperature Range: Typically -30°C to +100-120°C
• Mechanical Resistance: Good general mechanical performance, flexible and forgiving.
• Limitations: Not suitable for strong oxidising agents, chlorinated solvents, or high-temperature applications. Degrades in prolonged exposure to ozone, UV, certain solvents, and extremes of temperature.

Viton seal (also known as FKM) combine high temperature capability with broad chemical resistance.

• Chemical Compatibility: Very good for fuels, oils, many chemicals, acids, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and aggressive solvents. Not quite as universal as PTFE in very extreme chemicals, but far better than most elastomers.
• Temperature Range: Typically -20 °C to +200-250 °C
• Mechanical Resistance: Good elasticity, compression set resistance, and durability under mechanical stresses.
• Limitations: More expensive; in extremely aggressive acids or bases, PTFE may still outperform; less forgiving in very low temperature service than some elastomers.

• Use PTFE when the fluid is highly corrosive, requires chemical inertness, or temperature extremes exceed what elastomers can sustain.
• Use EPDM for water, steam, or general industrial fluids (non-hydrocarbon) when cost and elastomer flexibility are favoured.
• Use Buna when the medium is oil, fuel, or hydrocarbon-based and temperatures are moderate.
• Use Viton when you need both good chemical resistance (especially to oils/solvents) and higher temperature performance.