A good O-Ring can last for decades, so it’s important to choose the right one. You need to look at the application, operating conditions, chemical compatibility, pressure, temperature, durometer and size.
O-rings are available in a wide range of materials, including Nitrile (Buna), Neoprene, Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPDM), Silicone, Fluorocarbon, and PTFE. Some of these compounds are suited for general-purpose applications, while others are ideal for harsher environments.
Material
The material that you choose to use when selecting the right Parker O-Ring for your application has a large impact on how the seal performs. It may also determine how long it lasts and how much damage it can sustain.
For example, the type of O-Ring used can affect how it performs when exposed to ozone, sunlight, and oxygen. It can also influence its ability to withstand chemicals, including acids, fuels, and aromatics.
O-Rings are made from various elastomers, each of which has its own characteristics that make them ideal for certain applications. These characteristics include chemical resistance, temperature, pressure, and grip.
A common elastomer is polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, which can be used in harsh environments with high temperatures. This material is also compatible with a wide range of chemicals, making it an ideal choice for many sealing applications.
Other popular elastomers are silicone (VMQ) and fluorosilicone (FVMQ). Silicone O-Rings offer excellent insulating properties, as well as sealability at high temperatures.
Another elastomer is nitrile rubber, which offers good heat and abrasion resistance and is resistant to ozone, sunlight, and oxygen. Nitrile O-Rings are available in many different durometers and are commonly used to seal petroleum oils.
Several other elastomers are available, including EPDM and Neoprene. These materials are ideal for a variety of sealing applications, and are often used in automotive and aircraft applications.
The most important thing to consider when choosing the right o-ring for your application is its compatibility with the fluid, temperature, and pressure that you are operating under. Depending on the specific application, you should also look at its abrasion and tear resistance, as well as its electrical resistance property.
Temperature
When choosing an o-ring for your application, it is important to consider the temperature range that it will be used in. This will help to narrow down your options and ensure that you choose the correct material for your project.
Many o-rings are designed to be able to handle a wide range of temperatures. However, there are certain o-rings that can only be used to a particular maximum or minimum temperature. This is particularly crucial when deciding which material to use on a project that will be subjected to swings in temperatures throughout the process.
PTFE O-Rings, for example, are capable of working up to 250degC and offer a great level of chemical resistance. This means they can withstand many of the chemicals that are often used in automotive sealing.
FEP O-Rings, on the other hand, are capable of working to a temperature of 204degC and offer a similar level of chemical resistance. They can withstand a number of different substances, including oil, fuels and chemicals.
In addition to temperature, there are a few other factors that will also determine which material is best for your o-ring application. These include operating conditions, chemical compatibility, sealing pressure, and more.
For example, nitrile elastomers are a common choice for seals that are required to be compatible with gasoline, fuels and oils. These O-Rings can withstand these environments and provide excellent resistance to ozone, sunlight and UV radiation.
Fluorocarbon elastomers are another popular choice for O-Rings because they can handle a wide variety of chemistries and temperatures. This allows them to be used in a broad range of applications. Some FKM o-rings can withstand temperatures as low as -65degC.
Pressure
O-rings are the primary seals used in many industrial applications. They can be found in factory machinery, fuel and chemical processing, and more to prevent leaks and ensure maximum efficiency.
These rings are typically molded from an elastomer or thermoplastic material. They are available in a variety of sizes and can function at different temperatures, pressures, and chemicals.
A good way to determine the appropriate O-ring for your application is to use a compatibility table that lists the chemicals and fluids that are compatible with a particular material. For example, Buna-N is a typical compound that works well for most water and oil-based fluids. However, if you are using a corrosive fluid, then you may want to choose an O-ring with more elasticity.
Grip
O-rings are circular sealing products that are mainly used in static applications. They are available in various sizes and can be made from a wide range of materials. Parker's Engineered Materials Group is a leading provider of reliable O-ring options for a variety of industries.
The primary factors in selecting an o-ring material include the working fluid and temperature. The design table in the Parker O-ring Handbook is a good way to determine which materials are best for your application.
Some materials are suited for a wide range of general uses while others have more time-tested characteristics that can be more suitable for more extreme applications. For example, neoprene is an elastomer that has a low compression set and good resilience and abrasion resistance.
Fluorocarbon (FKM) compounds are another popular choice, offering high-temperature resistance and chemical resistance. These compounds can also be used in a variety of applications, including aircraft and automotive manufacturing.
When designing an o-ring, it is important to choose the right cross-section size and groove width. These factors affect all the subsequent dimensions and specifications in your design.
Using the Standard O-Ring Size table, select an o-ring size that will position it in the proper groove for your seal design. This will ensure a tight seal and will prevent leakage from occurring in the future.
If you need help choosing an o-ring, contact us today for a free quote! Our team will work with you to create the perfect solution for your application.
Once you have selected the o-ring that will be best for your application, be sure to apply a high-quality O-ring grease to it before installation. This will increase its lubricity, and it will make it easier for the o-ring to slide in the groove. It will also help it swell slightly, increasing the pressure it can withstand after installation.
Chemical Resistance
When it comes to choosing the right Parker O-Ring for your application, chemical resistance is a key consideration. This is particularly important when choosing a seal for corrosive environments, which may require a material that is more resistant to specific chemicals than others.
The most common synthetic rubbers used for O-ring manufacture are Buna-N and nitrile, or nitrile/Buna-N, which are both resistant to a wide variety of fuels, oils, and diluted acids. They also withstand a broad range of temperatures, from -40degC to 121degC (-40degF to 250degF).
Nitrile/Buna-N O-rings are ideal for automotive and aerospace fueling applications where other rubbers cannot be used due to their reactivity with the fluids that they contain. They also work well in general industrial applications, but should not be exposed to ethers, esters, ketones, or chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Another popular synthetic rubber O-ring material is fluorocarbon, also known as FKM or FPM. They are compatible with a variety of oil- and gas-based fluids, including fuels, ozone, oxygen, mineral oil, and synthetic hydraulic fluids. Special FKM compounds also exhibit improved resistance to acids and fuels.
Several types of perfluoroelastomers are available in a variety of hardnesses to meet the needs of different sealing applications. Typically, 70 or 55 durometer are common hardnesses and work well for most applications, although 90 is extremely hard and may be more difficult to install and maintain in small sizes.
One of the most common questions that we receive from our customers is “Will this O-Ring work with a specific chemical?” While we can’t answer that question for each and every customer, we have created a compatibility matrix for the most common o-ring materials to help you make an informed decision about which material is best for your application. You can find the matrix in our ESP Material Selection Web Tool, which allows you to search by a variety of factors including temperature, pressure, and material family.
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