Jinwoseal Inc.: Understanding the Materials Behind Industrial O-Rings

O-rings play a crucial role in a wide array of industries, including automotive, aerospace, life sciences, and medical applications. They are designed to seal mechanized parts that handle pressurized gases or liquids, ensuring reliable performance and preventing leaks. At Jinwoseal Inc., we collaborate with engineers to identify and provide O-rings that meet specific requirements for durability and functionality.

The choice of O-ring material is critical, as using inappropriate materials can lead to seal failure under certain chemical, temperature, friction, or pressure conditions. Here are five common materials used in industrial O-rings:

1. Nitrile (NBR or Buna-N): Nitrile is an affordable rubber that can withstand exposure to water, oils, lubricants, some fuels, and a broad temperature range. Nitrile O-rings are widely used across industries, particularly in electronics, manufacturing, and food processing applications.

2. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene): PTFE O-rings are known for their resistance to chemical exposure and their ability to perform well under high temperatures (up to 500°F). They are highly resilient to most gases and fluids, even at extreme temperatures, making them a popular choice for axial static faces and flange applications.

3. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer): EPDM O-rings are often selected for applications involving brake fluids, oxygenated solvents, and alkali solvents in hydraulic environments. While they have slightly lower heat resistance compared to PTFE, they are not recommended for use with grease, oils, petroleum, gas, or hydrocarbons.

4. Silicone: Silicone O-rings are favored for their durability under dry heat conditions, making them suitable for electronics, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical applications. They are not recommended for use with brake fluids or other acidic fluids but can handle a wide temperature range and have a low compression set.

5. Viton™: Viton™ O-rings, made from synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer compounds, excel in harsh conditions. They are commonly used in chemical processing, food and beverage, and automotive applications that require extreme temperature resilience (from -58°F to +446°F). Viton™ O-rings offer superior resistance to permeation, compression, grease, oil, fuel, oxygen, acid, and various solvents.

   
   

At Jinwoseal Inc., we pride ourselves on our ability to source a wide variety of O-rings in all shapes, sizes, colors, and chemical compositions. If we don't have the O-ring you need, we will create it for you. We are more than just an O-ring supplier; we are a full-service O-ring consultancy team. Contact us today to ensure you get the right seal for your project.