From engine and appliance repair to medical and aerospace devices, silicone rubber o-rings benefit a variety of industries and professions due to their unique properties. Used to keep liquid and gas leaks from occurring in sensitive conditions, silicone rubber o-rings create a tight seal under extreme temperatures and pressure. Due to their high-energy, silicone-oxygen bonds, they also offer great flex and fatigue life, combined with a resistance to ozone and UV radiation.
This type of product adaptability is especially essential for businesses looking to survive an economic downturn through cutting costs and optimizing production.
Since one of the main components of weathering the economic storms is making sure that production is optimized, using silicone rubber seals could increase production efficiency and minimize labor costs. This is especially true when you consider the extra expenses brought on by using other materials as a sealant for their equipment. The increased maintenance time and cost alone are worth a switch to a silicone o-ring standard, added to the fact that there will be less damage to expensive equipment that would hurt a company’s bottom line to have to replace.
The advantages of silicone rubber seals are obvious to anyone who knows the engineering requirements for needed devices and equipment across industries. If your business wants to stay ahead and stay competitive in the coming year, here are a few benefits of silicone rubber seals to consider.
Thermal Stability
Silicone rubber seals far surpass many other o-ring seals in their ability to withstand conditions where extreme temperatures are involved. For example, silicone o-ring seals made out of standard compounds can withstand temperatures ranging from 85°F to +400°F. Those with special compounds added can do even better in conditions of extreme heat and cold, holding up against temperatures ranging from -148°F to +400°F.
Versatility
Due to their low outgassing and excellent dampening properties, silicone rubber seals can be used successfully across a variety of applications and industries. The food and beverage industry needs them for brake systems, air conditioning systems, and engine components. Silicone rubber seals are standard in the aviation and defense industry for sealing aircraft, ships and guns against leaks. The automotive industry puts them to use for engine and transmission components, as well as a variety of systems ranging from fuel to air conditioning to brakes.
Additionally, silicone rubber seals are approved by the FDA for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. They help devices like pumps, filtration devices and connectors run smoothly, as well as benefit drug production applications and analytical equipment.
Sterilize-in-Place
Another important factor in the use of silicone rubber seals is their ability to withstand most sterilization processes. This can be especially important for sterilize-in-place equipment. With excellent resistance to chemicals and UV rays, medical-grade silicone o-rings can be used in pumps, tanks, valves, separators and heat exchangers, among other devices.
According to the FDA’s most recently published guide for sterilization best practices in the medical and drug industries, sterilizing the preassembled connection with sterilize-in-place technology, instead of using an aseptic connection, can avoid a significant aseptic manipulation. This allows the equipment and components to be sterilized in place with heat, due to the silicone rubber seal’s ability to withstand high temperatures.
Why Silicone Rubber Seals?
While certain materials are best for unique conditions, there are very few cases where you can go wrong using silicone rubber seals. They have stood the test of heat, pressure and time in a variety of applications.
