What Is a Rubber Seal?
A rubber seal is a sealing material made of rubber, which is used in a wide range of fields, such as packing, gaskets, and oil seals, taking advantage of the properties of rubber.
In fields where airtightness is required, cushioning properties are required. On the other hand, if the main purpose is to prevent liquid leakage, materials with high strength and excellent durability are used in most cases.
In addition, rubber seals are made of the most suitable rubber material for each application. For example, for outdoor use, rubber with good environmental resistance is used.
Uses of Rubber Seals
Most rubber seals are made of nitrile rubber (NBR), which has a good balance of various properties, and are widely used for oil seals for automobiles, O-rings, heat-resistant hoses, belts, and other applications. Since many varieties are manufactured for different applications, they are selected from a wide range of products and adopted.
In addition, rubber seals made of silicone rubber are often used in connector gaskets for electrical components and waterproof gaskets for automobiles because of their excellent resistance to heat, cold, lubricating oil, and water.
Properties of Rubber Seals
Rubber seals consist of various types of rubber, a material that fills gaps between solid substances. The elasticity of the rubber allows it to adhere to the gap and prevent distribution between them.
The fluids that can be stopped by rubber seals are gases or liquids. Among them, they are most often used to seal water or oil.
Rubber seals are available in a variety of forms, including pre-molded rubber that is pressed into the gap, as well as liquid rubber that is injected into the gap and allowed to solidify. Filled rubber seals are often used in applications where small gaps are not allowed and where removal is not a prerequisite. For example, filled rubber seals are ideal for waterproofing uses of building materials used in construction.
Types of Rubber Seals
The most commonly used types of rubber seals are called “gaskets,” “packings,” and “O-rings.”
1. Gasket
Gaskets are seals for fixing. They are used to seal connections in parts and piping. Gaskets are placed between connections and secured with bolts, etc. to seal gaps between connections and prevent leakage of fluids passing through the interior and contamination by foreign matter.
Selecting the gasket material according to the operating environment and fluid prevents leakage and gasket deterioration.
2. Packing
Packing is a sealing material for motion. Packing is used to seal parts that are repeatedly put on and taken off, or that rotate or reciprocate.
Among packings, those that come in contact with parts in particular motion are called contact seals. Oil seals for mechanical parts and gland packings for pumps are contact seals.
3. O-Ring
O-rings are used primarily for installation in grooves of parts and other components. It can be a gasket or a packing. It is circular and has a self-sealing action that uses pressure, such as atmospheric or hydraulic pressure, to seal fluids. It is widely used in applications ranging from common water faucets to stainless steel pressure vessels.