Must know tips on selecting the best elastomeric rubber seals technology

Selecting the correct elastomeric technology for your industrial rubber sealing application is an important part of the overall design and manufacture process.

Important criteria to consider when choosing the most appropriate elastomeric rubber components include:

• chemical and mechanical properties
• corrosion resistance
• elasticity
• flexibility
• reaction to cold or hot temperatures
• tensile strength

Elastomeric rubber manufacturing techniques, such as the extrusion process, also play an important role in determining the correct rubber composition.

Extrusion is one of the most common fabrication techniques used by rubber seals manufacturers to process and mould rubber components into a range of shapes and sizes with varying degrees of resistance.

Below is a brief summary of the different types of extruded rubber profiles mainly used for dampening, insulating and sealing applications.

Get the best of both material worlds and go with a co-extruded composition

An ideal rubber construction choice when dual rigidity and flexibility is necessary. Two materials, typically with varying durometers, merge into one mechanism; one example is an application that facilitates as a fixed retainer, together with an adaptable seal or bumper mechanism.

Stick with the popular crowd and choose a dense extrusion

Dense extrusion is one of the most widely used type of construction that works for a wide range of applications. The resilient properties of this profile makes this type a natural choice for critical applications requiring maximum durability.

Want some more muscle in your application? Choose a fabric reinforced profile

Embedded fabric boosts the tensile strength of the rubber component so that it becomes an anti-corrosion and friction reduction workhorse for those demanding applications.

Soak up the benefits like a sponge extrusion

As long as the compression set of the application is not a top priority (because of its soft properties, the component will set permanently) sponge extrusions have the advantage of making the most effective use of material due to its pliable nature as a softer seal.

When failure is not an option, multi-laminate extrusion is a safe bet

Used in exacting applications with zero room for failure (such as the aerospace industry) multi-laminate based components are chosen. The combination of fabric, polyester and silicone provides decreased friction while the tough polyester material holds moulded components easily inside its retainer.

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