High Temperature / Heat Resistant Silicone O-Rings
Manufacturer & Custom Solutions

High Temperature / Heat Resistant Silicone O-Rings

High-temperature silicone O-rings from ZSR Silicone stay flexible at 250°C and handle short spikes to 300°C. Choose from VMQ, FVMQ or fiberglass-reinforced grades depending on your heat and chemical exposure.

  • Heat Resistance: Up to 250°C continuous (300°C spike)
  • Low Compression Set at High Temperature
  • Thermal Cycling Stability
  • MOQ: Flexible / Low MOQ Support
  • Lead Time: Prototype in 2-5 Days
  • Certifications: FDA, LFGB, ISO 9001, ROHS, REACH

FDA 21 CFR 177.2600

Rubber Articles Intended for Repeated Use

LFGB 30&31

EU Food Contact Materials

USP Class VI / ISO 10993

Biocompatibility of Medical Devices

RoHS / REACH

Environmental Compliance

UL 94

Flammability of Plastic Materials

Built to Your Exact Spec

Custom Silicone O-ring Options

ImageProductTypeShort InfoAction
ISO 3601 Metric Silicone O-Rings ISO 3601 Metric Silicone O-Rings Standard & Size Metric silicone O-rings manufactured to ISO 3601 dimensions. Fits international equipment groove standards. View Details
ISO 6149 Metric Silicone O-Rings ISO 6149 Metric Silicone O-Rings Standard & Size Metric O-rings designed for hydraulic and pneumatic fluid power sealing applications under ISO 6149 standards. View Details
BS 1806 Silicone O-rings BS 1806 Silicone O-rings Standard & Size British Standard inch-size silicone O-rings. Common in UK and Commonwealth industrial equipment. View Details
DIN 3771 Silicone O-rings DIN 3771 Silicone O-rings Standard & Size German metric standard O-rings for hydraulic and pneumatic sealing in European machinery. View Details
Custom Molded Silicone O-rings Custom Molded Silicone O-rings Standard & Size Custom-shaped silicone O-rings molded to your exact drawing or sample. No standard size limitations. View Details
AS568 Silicone O-rings AS568 Silicone O-rings Standard & Size Inch-size silicone O-rings that follow the AS568 standard. Widely used in North American machinery and hydraulic systems. View Details
AN6227 Silicone O-rings AN6227 Silicone O-rings Standard & Size Aerospace-standard O-rings with small cross-section. Used in aviation and military-grade sealing. View Details
AN6230 Silicone O-rings AN6230 Silicone O-rings Standard & Size Aerospace-standard O-rings specified under AN6230 for aviation and military-grade sealing. View Details
JIS B2401 Silicone O-Ring JIS B2401 Silicone O-Ring Standard & Size Japanese industrial standard O-rings commonly used in Asian-manufactured machinery and automotive equipment. View Details
FDA Food Grade Silicone O-Rings FDA Food Grade Silicone O-Rings Grade Food-safe silicone O-rings compliant with FDA regulations. Safe for repeated food contact. View Details
Industrial Grade Silicone O-ring Industrial Grade Silicone O-ring Grade General-purpose silicone O-rings for industrial sealing. Cost-effective with reliable performance. View Details
Medical Grade Silicone O-ring Medical Grade Silicone O-ring Grade Biocompatible silicone O-rings for medical devices. Passes USP Class VI and supports sterilization. View Details
Oil-Resistant / Fuel-Resistant Silicone O-Rings Oil-Resistant / Fuel-Resistant Silicone O-Rings Special Function Modified silicone O-rings that resist swelling in oils, fuels and petroleum-based fluids. View Details
Metal Detectable Silicone O-Rings Metal Detectable Silicone O-Rings Special Function Food-safe silicone O-rings with metal-detectable additives. Protects production lines from contamination. View Details
High Temperature / Heat Resistant Silicone O-Rings High Temperature / Heat Resistant Silicone O-Rings Special Function Silicone O-rings that stay flexible at temperatures above 200°C. For ovens, engines and furnaces. View Details
VMQ Silicone O-Rings VMQ Silicone O-Rings Materials Heat and cold-resistant silicone O-rings for food, medical, automotive, and industrial applications. View Details
Fiberglass Reinforced Silicone O-rings Fiberglass Reinforced Silicone O-rings Materials High-strength silicone O-rings reinforced with fiberglass fabric. Withstands extreme heat and pressure. View Details
HCR / HTV / Solid Silicone Rubber O-rings HCR / HTV / Solid Silicone Rubber O-rings Materials Durable solid silicone rubber O-rings made by compression molding. The standard choice for general sealing. View Details
Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) O-rings Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) O-rings Materials Injection-molded liquid silicone rubber O-rings with tight tolerances and clean surfaces. Ideal for high-volume production. View Details
Platinum Cured Silicone O-rings Platinum Cured Silicone O-rings Materials Ultra-clean silicone O-rings cured with platinum catalyst. Lower extractables for food and medical use. View Details
Fluorosilicone (FVMQ) O-rings Fluorosilicone (FVMQ) O-rings Materials Fuel and oil-resistant silicone O-rings for aerospace, automotive and chemical applications. View Details
Transparent / Clear Silicone O-rings Transparent / Clear Silicone O-rings Color See-through silicone O-rings for visual inspection and clean-looking medical or food equipment. View Details
Black / White Silicone O-Rings Black / White Silicone O-Rings Color Standard black and white silicone O-rings. The most common colors for industrial and food-grade applications. View Details
Pantone Colors Silicone O-rings Pantone Colors Silicone O-rings Color Silicone O-rings in any Pantone color for branding, color-coding or aesthetic requirements. View Details
Custom Colors Silicone O-rings Custom Colors Silicone O-rings Color Silicone O-rings matched to your exact color sample or specification. View Details

Temperature Rating Comparison

Not all silicone O-rings handle heat the same way. At ZSR Silicone Parts, we offer three heat-performance levels so you can match the material to your actual temperature needs.

Grade

Continuous Use

Short-Term Peak

Key Features

Standard VMQ

-60°C to +200°C

Up to +230°C

Good for most industrial and automotive applications. Lowest cost.

High-Temp VMQ

-60°C to +230°C

Up to +250°C

Enhanced heat stabilizers. Better resistance to long-term heat aging.

PVMQ (Phenyl Silicone)

-70°C to +230°C

Up to +300°C

Phenyl groups replace some methyl groups. Best for extreme heat and cold.

What "Continuous" vs "Short-Term" Means
Continuous:

The temperature the O-ring can handle 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for its full service life without hardening or cracking.

Short-Term Peak:

The maximum temperature the O-ring can survive for minutes or hours during an overload, spike, or emergency condition. It will not fail immediately, but prolonged exposure at this level will shorten its life.

ZSR's Recommendation:
  • If your normal operating temperature is below 180°C, standard VMQ is enough.
  • If your equipment runs at 180°C to 230°C for long periods, choose our high-temp VMQ grade.
  • If you see spikes above 250°C or need the best low-temp flexibility too, PVMQ is the right choice.
Important:

Temperature ratings assume the O-ring is in air or an inert environment. In oil, steam, or certain chemicals, the maximum temperature may be lower. Send ZSR your full operating conditions and we will confirm the right grade.

Hardness Selection for High Heat

At high temperatures, silicone rubber becomes softer. This means a 50 Shore A O-ring at room temperature might feel like 40 Shore A at 200°C. If the material gets too soft, it can squeeze out of the groove or lose its seal force. At ZSR, we help customers pick the right hardness for their heat level.

The Heat-Softening Rule

As a general guide, silicone loses about 1 to 2 Shore A points for every 10°C above 100°C. A 50 Shore A O-ring at 25°C will measure roughly:

  • 45 Shore A at 150°C
  • 40 Shore A at 200°C
  • 35 Shore A at 230°C
ZSR's Hardness Recommendations by Temperature

Operating Temperature

Recommended Hardness

Why

Up to 150°C

40 – 70 Shore A

Standard range works fine.

150°C to 200°C

50 – 70 Shore A

Slightly harder to offset softening.

200°C to 230°C

60 – 80 Shore A

Firmer material resists extrusion better at high heat.

Above 230°C (short-term)

70 – 80 Shore A

Maximum hardness for spike conditions.

Compression Set at High Temperature

Compression set is the biggest enemy of high-temp seals. It measures how much the O-ring stays flattened after being squeezed for a long time. At high temperatures, compression set gets worse. ZSR controls this by:

  • Using heat-stabilized compounds with special additives
  • Recommending harder grades for long-term hot applications
  • Performing ASTM D573 heat aging tests to verify performance
Special Note on PVMQ

PVMQ (phenyl silicone) handles both extreme heat and extreme cold better than standard VMQ. However, it is more expensive and harder to source. At ZSR, we stock PVMQ for aerospace and defense customers who need that wide temperature window.

Common High-Temp Applications

ZSR's high-temperature silicone O-rings are used wherever equipment gets hot and must keep running.

Industry

Application

Temperature Challenge

Automotive

Turbocharger seals, exhaust manifold gaskets, EGR valve seals, under-hood sensors

Engine bays reach 150°C–200°C. Turbochargers see 250°C+ spikes.

Aerospace

Engine seals, fuel system gaskets, cabin pressure seals, avionics cooling

Altitude changes plus heat. Needs -55°C cold start and +200°C+ running.

Food Equipment

Oven door seals, steam kettle gaskets, commercial fryer covers, baking machine seals

Steam at 100°C–150°C. Oven doors see 200°C+ during cleaning cycles.

Industrial Heating

Furnace door seals, kiln gaskets, heat press pads, molding machine seals

Constant exposure to 200°C–250°C. Needs long life without hardening.

Lighting

LED heat sink seals, stage light gaskets, projector seals

LED drivers and high-power lamps generate 150°C–180°C.

Electronics

Power supply seals, transformer gaskets, battery pack seals, server cooling

Compact electronics with poor airflow. Heat builds up to 150°C+.

Plastics & Rubber Molding

Injection molding machine seals, extruder gaskets, hot runner seals

Direct contact with melted plastic at 200°C–300°C.

Renewable Energy

Solar inverter seals, wind turbine brake seals, battery thermal management

Outdoor exposure plus internal heat from power conversion.

What Is High Temperature / Heat Resistant Silicone?

High temperature silicone is silicone rubber that has been specially formulated to resist heat aging. All silicone handles heat better than most rubber materials, but high-temp grades add extra protection so the O-ring stays soft and seals reliably for years in hot conditions.

How Standard Silicone Reacts to Heat

Standard silicone rubber is already heat-resistant because of its silicon-oxygen backbone. Unlike carbon-based rubber (like NBR or EPDM), silicone does not melt or decompose easily. However, at temperatures above 200°C for long periods, standard silicone starts to:

  • Lose elasticity (becomes harder or more brittle)
  • Shrink slightly
  • Develop surface cracks
  • Suffer from compression set (stays flattened)
How High-Temp Silicone Is Different

At ZSR, we make high-temp silicone by adding heat stabilizers to the compound. These are special additives that:

  • Scavenge free radicals before they attack the polymer chain
  • Slow down oxidation at high temperatures
  • Help the rubber keep its cross-linked structure

The result is an O-ring that lasts 2 to 5 times longer in hot conditions than standard silicone.

PVMQ — The Extreme Option

For the hottest applications, ZSR offers PVMQ (phenyl methyl vinyl silicone). In this material, some of the methyl groups in the polymer chain are replaced by phenyl groups. This change:

  • Lose elasticity (becomes harder or more brittle)
  • Shrink slightly
  • Develop surface cracks
  • Suffer from compression set (stays flattened)

PVMQ is the material used in aerospace engine seals and satellite components. It costs more than standard VMQ, but it is the only choice when the temperature range is extreme at both ends.

Key Properties of High-Temp Silicone
  • Continuous Range: -60°C to +230°C (high-temp VMQ grade)
  • Peak Range: Up to +250°C for hours, +300°C for minutes (PVMQ)
  • Hardness: 40 to 80 Shore A. ZSR recommends 60+ for long-term hot seals.
  • Colors: Usually red, brown, or black. Heat-stabilized pigments are used. Transparent high-temp grades are limited.
  • Chemical Resistance: Same as standard silicone — excellent against water, steam, ozone, and mild chemicals. Poor against strong acids and hydrocarbon fuels.

High temperature silicone is simply silicone rubber with extra protection against heat aging. It is not a different material family — it is the same silicone you trust, made stronger for hot environments. Whether your equipment runs at 150°C all day or sees 300°C spikes during startup, ZSR has a heat-resistant grade that fits. Our engineering team can review your temperature profile and recommend the right compound, hardness, and size for your seal.