Leakage of fluids such as liquids and gases is one of the main concerns across industries, where they are used as a part of different industrial processes. To avoid this, manufacturers rely on different types of rubber seals and gaskets in equipment responsible for the transmission of these fluids. Thus, nowadays, rubber seals have become an integral part of valves, pumps, pipe fittings, as well as vacuum seals. Does that mean all rubber seals are the same? No, they are not created the same. They differ in designs, materials, and other specifications, too. Thus, several factors must be kept in mind while designing the seals for your industrial applications. The post outlines a few important factors to be considered during the construction of rubber seals and gaskets.

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Important Things to Consider When Designing Rubber Seals and Gaskets
Failure of a rubber seal or gasket may affect the performance of an application. This means you cannot afford to make the wrong choices, isn’t it? The following pointers will help you make the right decision regarding these seals:

• Environment of Use: Perhaps, you may agree that frequent gasket replacement can be time-consuming or frustrating, too. To avoid this, it is important to consider the environment where they are supposed to be installed. There are several limitations on materials across industries such as military, food and pharmaceutical. The consideration of the following will help you better:
  • Compatibility with the chemicals to be used
  • The effect of pressure and temperature on the seals
  • The effect of friction as it can cause excessive pressures to develop and tear the seal portion
  • Tolerance stack up of different parts of the seal
• Dimensional Requirements: What is a right sealing? How does it occur? A sealing occurs when the seal is compressed between two surfaces. The compression causes deformation, which helps prevent the leakage of fluid. To achieve this deformation or proper compression, the cross-section of the seal must be larger than its gland depth. If the cross-section is too small or too large, the seal may not compress properly or disrupt the connection between the two mating surfaces.
• Consider the Adhesive Attachment System: Always ensure that the attachment surface is 1/8ʺ wider. The adhesive must be placed on flat surfaces of the substrate and the seal. The thickness of the adhesive must be taken into consideration when designing the rubber seal for your application.
• Total Amount of Load Applied: What is the direction of the load applied? The results can be disappointing if the load applied is more or less than the specified. The total amount of load applied can be easily controlled by managing the shape of the cross-section, or by adding hollow sections or holes in the cross-section.
• Closing Force Required: What is the required closing force for an application? How much closing force will be tolerated by the application? If the seal is designed for tolerating 20 pounds of force at the maximum, it is not suited for an application where it may be subjected to 50 pounds of force. Along with this, you also need to consider the force needed on the seal, surface area, and size of the cross-section.
• Type of Friction to be Endured: When it comes to dynamic moving applications, the friction is mainly distinguished into two types— breakout friction and running friction. The breakout friction can cause high pressures to develop if the part movement is intermittent. However, running friction can cause the heat to build up, which may lead to swelling. In both cases, the friction can cause seal failure.

How to Choose the Right Rubber Seal for Your Application

Rubber seals are used across a variety of industries, including marine and industrial, as well as automotive, aerospace and engineering. Choosing the right rubber seal for your application is important to ensure maximum performance, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Rubber seals are used across a variety of industries, including marine and industrial, as well as automotive, aerospace and engineering. Choosing the right rubber seal for your application is important to ensure maximum performance, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

This expert guide will assist you in selecting the best rubber seal for your application, considering different environments and needs, while exploring the important factors, like temperature resistance, chemical compatibility, pressure tolerance and material options.

What are rubber seals used for?

Rubber seals are an extremely popular choice when ensuring a watertight seal across a range of applications. Rubber seals ensure that, when the most suitable material is used and the seal is fitted to an application correctly, water and air do not escape or enter a space, which prevents the overall efficiency of a product.

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There are multiple factors to consider when deciding which material is best for your rubber seal:

Temperature resistance

Rubber can withstand a range of extreme temperatures, making seals an ideal choice for use in environments where vast temperature changes are likely. Silicone is the most temperature resistant material, with an operating range from -100°C to 310°C, and is compatible with sterilisation techniques, including dry heat and gamma radiation. Even at low temperatures, rubber – especially silicone – has a high level of flexibility.

Chemical compatibility

When choosing material for your watertight seal and considering chemical compatibility, the first step is to understand what chemicals will be in use with your seal. This is crucial, because nobody wants any unnecessary chemical reactions. Harsh chemicals will cause most rubber materials to degrade, but nitrile works well with a broad range of chemicals, including acids and solvents, meaning it could be a suitable choice for your rubber seal which will be exposed to chemicals.

Pressure tolerance

Using rubber seals in an extremely high-pressure environment can cause damage or failure, regardless of the material selection. Avoiding exceeding the bearing range of the seal and avoiding temperature and pressure shocks will increase the lifetime of your rubber seal. Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) is an extremely reliable material for use in rubber seals because of its low compression set, meaning EPDM won’t lose much resilience after prolonged pressure and it will return to its previous shape after the application of force.

All types of rubber have their advantages and disadvantages. There are several other materials which can be used in the manufacture of watertight seals for a range of applications, depending on the intended usage. Certain materials often meet at least one of the criteria – temperature resistant, chemically compatible and pressure tolerant – and there are other material options for you to choose from for your rubber seal.

For example, Viton can withstand temperatures ranging from -20°C to 250°C, neoprene is highly resistant to chemicals and natural rubber has great tensile strength so is pressure tolerant. Despite their advantageous properties, all rubber deteriorates as it nears the end of its lifespan, so regular checks to ensure everything is working correctly and replacing your rubber seals when they are damaged is vital.

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Ready to choose the right rubber seal for your application?