If your business relies on rubber seals, you might find yourself overwhelmed by just how many options are out there. But finding the perfect seals for your industry is a must. Keep reading to learn four tips to help you do just that.
1. Know Your Temperature Range
When you’re dealing with sensitive manufacturing processes, a single mistake or failure can be catastrophic. One area that can be tricky to manage is finding materials designed to hold up to extreme temperatures. Rubber seals, in particular, are not all designed for high-heat situations or freezing temperatures.
A rubber seal that isn’t optimized for these situations could fail when the heat begins to rise or ice sets in. With a little research, you can find seals equipped to handle your industry’s environment. Always make sure that there’s leeway in your rubber seal’s temperature range; if things get hotter or colder during a malfunction, a seal with a higher threshold can help keep the situation from getting much worse.
2. Exposure Is a Death Sentence for Some Rubber
Your standard rubber seals will break down under exposure from the sun. Don’t assume that all industrial rubber seals correct this common problem. When you’re shopping for seals, check to be sure that they are designed to withstand sun exposure if you know that your equipment is likely to come into regular contact with it.
Sun exposure isn’t the only weather-related threat. Dry conditions can also lead to dried out seals. Avoid this problem by opting for seals made from materials that are designed to withstand dry heat and stay flexible under these conditions.
3. Consider Your Resistance Needs
Your rubber seals are going to be up against a variety of elements. Water, steam, heat, pressure and chemical exposure can all spell disaster if you don’t choose rubber seals that are designed to hold up to whatever you throw at them.
That’s why one of the most important things you can consider when searching for the right option for your industry is whether it offers the resistance that you’re going to need. For example, silicone o-rings offer high resistance and have the ability to stand up to extreme temperatures in industrial settings, steam in automotive settings and other harsh elements that other industries are up against.
However, even highly durable rubber seals aren’t necessarily designed to come into contact with every kind of chemical or other substance. Always check with the manufacturer to be sure that the seals that you are considering are right for your application.
4. Non-toxic Is a Must in Some Situations
In many industries, once a rubber seal is in place, it won’t come in contact with people again until it needs to be replaced. But this isn’t the case for every industry. For instance, in surgical situations, a rubber seal may regularly come in contact with patients and staff, either directly through touch or indirectly. Non-toxic seals are a must for any situation where a rubber seal could affect a patient’s health.
Finding the Right Rubber Seals for Your Business
Every industry has unique needs and demands; that means that they also put unique demands on the materials that they use. Rubber seals are essential in countless industries. But they are far from a one-size-fits-all solution. Finding the right rubber seals will help prevent problems and make sure that they function properly.
Knowing the temperature range of your production process, considering the exposure your equipment is up against, understanding the type of environment your seals will come into contact with and asking yourself whether your seals need to be non-toxic are all musts if you want to choose the perfect seals for your industry.
