digital divide network - article database

The selection of the correct grade of material as well as the right design for o-rings and gaskets is of vital importance to the sealing intergrity of the final product. Rubber sealing technology primarily uses a range of elastomeric material like Viton, FFKM, fluoroelastomers, Nitrile, EPDM and silicone to name a few. The material used will be a design consideration taking into account operating environment demands in terms of temperature, chemical contact as well as physical and mechanical demands such as abrasion and wear resistance. The manufacturing of o-rings and sealing gaskets is performed under strict production processes that deliver products in accordance with customers or end-users'specifications.

The use of o-rings and gaskets is found in industries as diverse as that of the chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals as well as petrochemical industries. Food processing equipment also uses o-rings and sealing gaskets. In the aerospace industries, where every component that is put into an aircraft has to meet the highest of standards and quality certification, o-rings and sealing products are also widely used. In the medical science industry, both implantable and non-implantable devices also utilise o-rings in their construction and sealing requirements. 

The use of rubber sealing products extends beyond that already mentioned, to heavy mining plants and equipment and pneumatic and hydraulic actuated hydraulic cylinders. Sealing demands for hydraulic systems may be different from that of pneumatic systems because of pressure requirements. Pneumatic seals and o-rings for pneumatic application generally have lower pressure demands whereas hydraulic cylinders can have operating pressure that is in excess of 10,000 psi. Abrasion and wear resistance is also a featured requirement because as pistons moves with the cylinders, wear and abrasion takes place and thus, the life time of the sealing product will depend on the right choice of material class.

The semiconductor manufacturing industry also utilises o-rings and seals in their equipment and the operation of such equipment typical requires sealing components to withstand unusually extreme temperatures. Seals are also subject to chemical attack from aggressive media. Because machinery and equipment downtime has a profound impact on manufacturing efficiency and cost, the right choice of material for sealing applications, in terms of <a href="http://www.oringsizes.com">o-ring sizes</a> and material grades, is crucial in the design of seals and gaskets. Seals and o-rings are manufactured under class 100 clean room environment meeting the highest of production standards.

Numerous certification authorities exist for related industries for the purpose of standardising the desired quality standards. The choice of nitrile rubber for instance, may be great for wear and abrasion resistance, but the material may not be suitable for extended periods of direct exposure to sunlight and ozone. The high end of sealing options is what is known as perfluoroelastomeric FFKM sealing material. This material has the exceptional ability to resist extreme temperature and chemcal attack that is found in many semiconductor manufacturing processes. Along with material properties as temperature and chemical resistance, the ability of the seal to remain elastic after prolonged used with a low compression set value is also important.  Material superiority been considered, price is also a major factor that manufacturers have to reckon with. However, in the grand scheme of things, the cost of the right elastomeric sealing product as compared to the price of manufacturing equipment and related labor costs is simply negligible. The cost to manufacturers of equipment downtime certainly is astronomical for such industries, and no amount of money will be spared in procuring products of the highest quality.