Importance of Choosing the Best O-Ring Material Wisely
O-Rings and seals are widely used across various industries. They help in tightly sealing the connection between pipes, tubes, and other elements of complex hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Due to many applications, there is also a wide variety of o-ring material choices available. Let’s take a look at some of these materials and why it’s important to choose the right one for your equipment.
Importance of O-Ring Material Selection
Many factors are to be considered before picking the right o-ring for your specific application. They include:
- operating condition
- chemical compatibility
- sealing pressure
- temperature
- durometer
- size and cost
- electrical resistance properties
- environmental conditions
O-rings are considered one of the most essential elements needed in industrial machinery as well as mechanical systems. These systems determine what o-ring material will comply with all its functions. This contributes to the faultless functioning of the particular device.
The factors mentioned above must be compatible with your choice of application. For example, standard low-temperature material seals in a high-temperature application will cause the seal to lose its physical integrity and there will be a leak, which could lead to a shutdown. Choosing the right material is crucial to keeping equipment running smoothly.
The o-ring is an indispensable component. Mechanical systems requiring fluids, oils, or lubrication to function also require gaskets like o-rings. With the ongoing development of elastic polymer materials, o-rings are used in nearly any mechanical application in any environmental condition or temperature, with exceptional chemical compatibility.
O-ring failures may occur due to improper installation, lubrication, or incorrect size. Selecting the wrong material for the application can contribute to product failure.
Common O-Ring Material Options
The sealing requirement for a particular device would need an o-ring that’s made up of a material that possesses compatible mechanical properties. It is highly recommended to consult an expert engineer when it comes to selecting just the right material for your o-rings. Gaining some knowledge of o-ring materials and their specifics can help you assess the selection process better.
Let’s go over a couple of the most common o-rings used in various industries and what their properties are suitable for:
- Fluorocarbon is a versatile material with a high-temperature range from -15 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It should not be used with Skydrol, amines, esters, ethers, hot hydrofluoric acids, hot water and steam. With the ability to handle a number of applications, it is suitable for use along with petroleum oils, silicone fluids and gases, acids and some halogenated hydrocarbons like carbon tetrachloride.
- Silicone withstands temperatures around -175 degrees Fahrenheit when exposed for a short time. It is more suitable for static applications. Silicone has a weak abrasion resistance with low tensile strength. It functions well within the range of -120 degrees Fahrenheit to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Being non-toxic, odorless, silicone goes well with vegetable oils, oxygen, ozone, dry heat, alcohol and sunlight.
The Right O-Ring Material Is Critical to Flawless Performance
The o-ring sealing technique plays a crucial role in numerous applications. Depending on the environment, an application may require the o-ring to be made up of a specific material that can withstand the circumstances and ensure flawless performance. Therefore, it is imperative to always consider the effects harsh environments, extreme temperatures and severe chemicals have on o-rings of your choice before you go ahead and make the purchase.
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