Originally developed by DuPont (under the brand name Viton, now owned by Chemours), FKMs are today also produced by many other companies, including: Daikin (Dai-El),[4] 3M (Dyneon),[5] Solvay S.A. (Tecnoflon),[6] HaloPolymer (Elaftor),[7] Gujarat Fluorochemicals (Fluonox),[8] and several Chinese manufacturers.
[12][13] Because of their outstanding performance they find use in a number of sectors, including the following: They are suitable for the production of wearables, due to low wear and discoloration even during prolonged lifetimes in contact with skin oils and frequent exposure to light, while guaranteeing high comfort and stain resistance;[14] The automotive industry represents their main application sector, where constant reach for higher efficiencies push manufacturers towards high-performing materials.
[15] An example are FKM o-rings used as an upgrade to the original neoprene seals on Corvair pushrod tubes that deteriorated under the high heat produced by the engine, allowing oil leakage.
FKM tubing or lined hoses are commonly recommended in automotive and other transportation fuel applications when high concentrations of biodiesel are required.
While these materials have a wide range of applications, their cost is prohibitive when compared to other types of elastomers, meaning that their adoption must be justified by the need for outstanding performance (as in the aerospace sector) and is inadvisable for low-cost products.