Polyurethane is a polymer that is highly versatile with a number of beneficial properties. It is durable, abrasion resistant, and is highly resilient. It can be used in a number of applications and comes in various forms. With all of these amazing benefits, you may wonder, is polyurethane waterproof?
Is Polyurethane Waterproof?
To a certain degree, polyurethane is waterproof. However, there are several factors that make some types of polyurethane more or less absorbent than other materials. The physical properties and material can determine what level of absorption (or lack of absorption) occurs. In fact, a number of thermoset polyurethanes can have nearly zero water absorption compared to other materials.
The role of water absorption plays a critical role in the design of a product. You may wonder, what exactly is water absorption and how does it work? Water absorption is determined by the amount of water that penetrates a given material. Porous materials often have higher rates of water absorption due to the nature of the material. However, more solid materials have less water absorption. Some materials can even be waterproof, meaning that they do not absorb any water.
Testing for Water Absorption
Values for water absorption are measured by the percentage of weight gain. This method takes roughly one week and involves comparing the wet weight to the dry weight. The water absorption depends on a variety of factors, including the type of polymer, what additives are in the polymer, the temperature, and the exposure time. There are standardized tests, most notably the ASTM-Standard D570 test, that offer consistent results when testing materials.
Polyurethane Types and Water Absorption
Polyurethane comes in a number of different forms. Common forms include solids and foam. These clearly display different levels of water absorption due their varying porosity. One of the major benefits of polyurethane is that it can be customized to repel water. This is unlike metals, rubber, plastics, and other natural materials which can be impacted by the customization. Oftentimes these materials can swell, oxidize, or corrode. However, polyurethane can be customized without the risk for these issues. This is why polyurethanes are commonly used in applications that are submerged in water or that experience high levels of humidity. Both of these scenarios require low water absorption to maintain the mechanical and physical properties of the application.
Using Polyurethane in Your Applications
Depending on your unique application, polyurethane is often a great material for projects that need materials with low water absorption. This is because materials such as metal, rubber, and thermoplastics can absorb water over time. This can be a serious issue in many applications. Product and application designers often need materials that are not impacted by water exposures. Issues such as stiffness, durometer, and dimensional changes cannot happen due to the impact they can have on the overall application or product.
Using certain polyurethane, including engineered thermoset polyurethane, can meet the needs of various applications as the rate of water absorption can be customized. Using a polyurethane can ensure a low water absorption rate, reduced maintenance requirements, and increase the life of the application or component can be highly beneficial. Water absorption issues can have a serious impact on certain applications, which can unnecessarily cost you time and money.
Specialty Seals from Real Seal
Customizing your materials is necessary to ensure your application needs are met. If the application requires low water absorption, consider polyurethane. Polyurethane o-rings can meet the needs of your application due to the benefits that come with the material. They can be easily customized by the experts at Real Seal. They manufacture and distribute both seal products and mechanical component goods. Consider specialty seals from Real Seal for your project needs.
O-rings are an integral component of numerous machines and other applications. Shaped like a donut, the ring can play a major role in various machines and applications. The ring-shaped seals are often made from elastomers. They are designed to prevent fluid and gas from leaking around mating surfaces (areas where two or more passages meet). Leakage on mating surfaces can cause serious damage and disrupt the machine process. This is why O-rings are vitally important as they can effectively prevent this from happening. O-rings can be made using a variety of different manufacturing processes. Below you will find the top 4 manufacturing processes for O-rings.
Top 4 Manufacturing Processes for O-Rings
O-rings are an integral part of many applications as they are vital in maintaining the function and purpose of them. Consider the top 4 manufacturing processes for O-rings.
Extrusion: Many O-rings can be made extrusion, a manufacturing process in which raw material is forced through a die or series of dies. There are different forms of extrusion, including hot extrusion, cold extrusion, friction extrusion, and microextrusion. When the material passes through the die (or dies), it ultimately takes on the shape of the die. Some types of extrusion manufacturing processes use a hopper. Raw material is fed into a hopper and heated. Once the material is heated, it is forced through a die or series of dies. O-rings are heated and passed through a ring-shaped die.
Pressure Molding: Another effective manufacturing process used to produce O-rings is pressure molding. Also referred to a “compression molding,” pressure molding uses heat and pressure to create a three-dimensional O-ring. The O-ring pressure molding manufacturing process begins by injecting preheated material into a mold cavity. This is often rubber, but can be other materials. Once the material is injected into the mold cavity, a fitted plug is used to close the cavity. The pressure is increased in the mold which allows the material to take shape.
Transfer Molding: O-rings can also be made using transfer molding, which is substantially similar to pressure molding. The manufacturing process of transfer molding involves placing preheated material into a mold cavity. Unlike pressure molding, transfer molding requires a closed mold cavity, not an open mold. Because transfer molding uses a closed mold cavity, the molding is able to create higher pressure. This makes the finished product thicker and often provides more consistent results.
Injection Molding: Injection molding is an effective manufacturing process that can be used to create O-rings. The process involves injecting raw material into a mold cavity, usually in the form of pellets. The pellets are then heated and become liquified, making them easily moldable once in the mold cavity.
Real Seal Specialty Seals
O-ring and other sealing systems are necessary for a variety of applications. The team at Real Seal are experts in specialty seals as they excel in providing both materials and designs that can solve any problem. Their focus is on performance as that is the number one priority for any application. Specialty seal considerations include the need for quality consumer and industrial products, environmental regulations, economic demands, performance demands, and consistency. They offer a variety of materials, including EPDM, Fluorocarbon, Silicone, BR, HNBR, and other rubber and plastic materials. These can be customized to meet your unique application needs.
The team at Real Seal are industry experts in both the manufacturing and distribution of seal products and mechanical component goods. Their products are high-quality, durable, consistent and efficient. No matter what your sealant needs are, Real Seal can provide you with customized options to meet your project needs. Avoid wasting time and contact Real Seal today for support!
Rubber is a part of our everyday lives as it is used in so many products and applications. From automobile tires to the soles of your shoes, rubber is everywhere. Due to the impact that certain materials can have on the environment, many people are becoming more and more conscious about finding effective ways to combat unnecessary waste. If you are trying to find the right material for your application, you may wonder, can rubber be recycled? Below you will find more information on rubber, its various uses, and the major benefits of the material.
Can Rubber Be Recycled?
Recycling can be highly beneficial as you can easily create new products with old materials. People often associated recycling with materials such as paper, plastic, metal, glass, and even water. However, rubber can also be recycled. Rubber is often recycled to create more rubber products. Rubber is a common material used in a variety of different applications in everyone’s daily life. Tires, gyms, children’s playgrounds, shoes, and even kitchen items are either made of or utilize rubber. One of the most common sources of recycled rubber is automobile tires. Recycling old tires is great for the environment as it reduces waste and pollution.
The Recycled Tire Process
Because recycled rubber products are mostly comprised of rubber from old tires, you may wonder what the process is like. Tires are made from both elastomers and metal fibers. With that, the rubber needs to be extracted from the tires in order to be recycled and repurposed into something else. Additionally, the rubber has been vulcanized. Vulcanization involves the process of treating and heating the rubber with sulfur. This strengthens the bonds between the chemical compounds.
Despite the benefits of vulcanization for tire production, this process must be undone to be able to use the rubber material in another application. Once the tires are separated from the other materials, they turn into a crumb-like substance. They are then treated and processed mechanically, and the crumbs are molded into a finished product. The finished product is most often a rubber roll which can be cut to make industrial equipment, injection molding, industrial pads, gaskets, and a number of other products.
Quality of Recycled Rubber
Recycled rubber can be customized to work in a variety of applications and products. The recycling process transforms the old rubber into a new product that is just as high quality as if it was made with new rubber. In fact, they are just as durable and reliable. In many cases, they can perform better than non-rubber alternatives. One of the major benefits of recycled rubber is that it is cost-effective. These are great incentives to opt for recycled rubber as the material also reduces waste and is better for the environment.
Benefits of Recycled Rubber
Your project will inevitably benefit from recycled rubber. However, consider the additional benefits of choosing recycled rubber.
Less Energy Consumption: Significant amounts of energy are used in the production of rubber. Recycled rubber eliminates some of the energy consumption by creating products with recycled materials.
Less Pressure on Natural Rubber: Using and recycling synthetic materials can ensure that natural rubber is preserved much more effectively.
Conserves Landfill Space: Reusing materials that are abundantly used, such as rubber, helps free up landfill space.
Real Seal Specialty Seals
Real Seal manufacturers and distributes seal products and mechanical component goods. They focused on performance-oriented rubber and plastic materials to meet the needs of your application. Real Seal specialty seals are the best on the market due to their durability and quality. The team of experts at Real Seal are skilled in customizing the product to meet your unique project needs. Contact their team today for more information!
Choosing a seal that is durable and long lasting is important no matter what the application is. While you may not be able to tell exactly how long a given seal will last, there are specific considerations that can help you determine which seal is best for your projects. Factors associated with the durability of a seal include the material, the amount of force, and the kind of force all impact the longevity and durability of a seal.
Determining Seal Durability
Making an educated guess on which seal is right for your project can lead to serious issues. The only way to effectively determine how long a specific seal will last is by using it in an application and measuring how long it takes for the seal to fail. Due to the risks associated with seal failure, multiply the rate at which it degrades over a period of time. Allowing the seal to run until it fails can have serious consequences and lead to a lot of damage. Using this method, seals tend to last around three years, but severe operations can significantly reduce the life of the seal.
Durability of Different Seals
Shelf life is another consideration when it comes to the durability and longevity of seals. The shelf life estimates are often very accurate due to the extensive research and development regarding seal applications. High quality seals have a much longer shelf life and degrade much slower as compared to cheaper knock-offs. The type of material used can impact the shelf life as well. In fact, rubber seals tend to have a shelf life of 15 years, while fluorocarbons and silicone seals have much longer shelf lives and degrade much slower. Seals created through compression transfer molding offer a variety of benefits as they are customized, durable, and long-lasting.
Common Reasons Seals Fail
Seal failure should cause serious damage and cost a lot of money. Understanding the most common reasons for seal failure can help you prevent failure and prepare accordingly in terms of replacement.
Initial Failure:Fast seal failure is often an indication that the wrong seal was chosen. This is why it’s important to choose the right seal for your specific application from the get-go. Understanding the shape, size, and design you need can help point you in the right direction in terms of finding the right seal. Certain materials, specifically corrosive or reactive materials, can weaken the seals at a much faster rate. Additionally, it’s necessary to know whether your application requires a seal that can withstand static or dynamic applications. Working with a sealant professional at Real Seal can ensure you choose the right seal for your unique application. They create specialty seals that meet your unique project needs.
Random Failure: This is often caused by mechanical or procedural failure. Random failure occurs when the conditions around the seal change, and it is not necessarily the seal itself that is the issue. Something that puts extra strain on the seal, such as a rapid increase in pressure, temperature, or physical force are common causes of random failure. Environmental factors are common causes as weather changes can dramatically impact seal durability. It’s important to take these weather changes into consideration when choosing a seal for your application.
Wear Failure: This is the ideal type of failure in the sense that the failure is only due to the fact that the seal has lasted for the expected duration and worn down as expected. When working with seals it is important to err on the side of caution and replace the seal before it completely wears down. Replacing it slightly early is much more cost-effective than the alternative.
Thermoplastic rubber was created to replace vulcanized rubber. Its key properties include chemical resistance, impact resistance, fatigue resistance, and it is also recyclable. You may wonder, does thermoplastic rubber contain latex? Below you will find helpful information about thermoplastic rubber and its unique properties.
Does Thermoplastic Rubber Contain Latex?
Thermoplastic rubber is synthetic and is not made up from any actual rubber-related components. Therefore, thermoplastic rubber does not contain any latex. In fact, it is manufactured from styrene and butadiene molecules. This combination of materials makes thermoplastic rubber great for projects that need rubber, but cannot use latex. The performance properties of rubber can be amazing in a variety of applications, but it can also seriously impact people who are allergic to it.
What is thermoplastic rubber?
Commercialized in the 1950s, thermoplastic rubber became the material used in rubber shoe soles. While the origins can be traced back to the 1920s, the material became popular in manufacturing in the 1960s. Thermoplastic rubber was chosen as it has the properties of rubber, but the ease of thermoplastics.
Thermoplastic rubber is a material that has both rubber-like and thermoplastic properties. It is a semi-crystalline material that is flexible and can be manufactured using melt processing techniques. The material is synthesized using block copolymers and is described as a thermoplastic elastomer. The purpose of using the material was because it was a more effective alternative to vulcanized rubber. Vulcanized rubber is expensive and difficult to manufacture.
Benefits of Thermoplastic Rubber
When choosing materials for your application, their beneficial properties are necessary to assess. Consider the following benefits of thermoplastic rubber.
Chemical Resistance: Thermoplastic rubbers are resistant to a number of chemicals. For example, they are resistant to oils, grease, dilute acids, dilute alkalis, and hydrocarbons. This can be highly beneficial
Recyclable: Reducing the impact materials can have on the environment is a win. Thermoplastic rubber can be easily recycled.
Major Strength: Thermoplastic rubber is impact resistant and has great compression strength. Because of this it can withstand impact loads.
Color Variation: Depending on your application, colors may be helpful or necessary. With that, thermoplastic rubber can be manufactured in a wide variety of colors. The material can also be painted over.
Highly Elastic: Compared to vulcanized rubber and thermosetting elastomers, thermoplastic rubber has comparable elasticity. This is beneficial in a variety of dynamic applications.
Wide Temperature Range: Certain applications have incredibly different temperatures. With that, thermoplastic rubber is an effective material as it has a range of temperatures that can go below 40 degrees Celsius all the way up to 120 degrees Celsius.
Thermoplastic Rubber Manufacturing Process
Thermoplastic rubber is a block copolymer made up of synthetic rubber. It is manufactured using living anionic polymerization. The process takes two monomers and polymerizes them into synthetic rubber, namely Styrene, Butadiene, and Styrene. This results in a polymer structure with hard crystalline regions and soft amorphous regions.
Thermoplastic Manufacturing Techniques
The final product is often plastic pellets which are used for a number of melt-processing
manufacturing techniques.
Injection Molding: This involves the injection of molten plastic into a mold. Overmolding is similar but involves thermoplastic rubber being molded over a more rigid structure.
Blow Molding: This technique involves the use of the force of air to line the inner surface with molten plastic. This creates thin-walled component parts.
Calendering: This process involves the creation of flat sheets that are flexible. They can also include fabric cores in some cases.
Real Seal
No matter what your application needs are, thermoplastic materials can be a beneficial choice. In fact, there are a variety of seal materials that can ensure your project runs smoothly. Rubber polyurethane seals are effective and can be used in a number of applications. Contact the team at Real Seal today as they are the top manufacturer and distributor of seal products and mechanical component goods.
Induction sealing bonds thermoplastic materials by induction heating. It is a useful method to help with leak prevention, freshness prevention, sustainability, production speed, and it is an effective protection against package pilferage. Below you will find information about how induction sealing works and its respective benefits.
How Induction Sealing Works
Induction sealing bonds thermoplastic materials by induction heating. Thermoplastic materials include plastic polymers that become pliable or moldable at higher temperatures. However, thermoplastics also solidify at cooler temperatures.
Induction sealing is used in the manufacturing process in a number of different industries. Everything from the food and beverage industry, to automotive and sporting goods supplies. It is often used for package fabrication, including forming flexible materials, tubes, and attaching plastic closures to package forms.
The most common use is cap sealing, a non-contact sealing method. The method involves heating the inner seal which hermetically seals the top of plastic and glass containers. The seal process occurs after the bottle has been filled up and capped. Specialty seals are effective in a variety of applications and offer a number of benefits as compared to alternatives, such as conduction sealing.
Features of Induction Sealing
Induction sealing is a useful method that has a number of different applications. Below are some of the main features of induction sealing.
Leak Prevention: Liquids are often shipped long distances and cannot leak. Businesses and shipping companies utilize induction sealing to ensure that liquid products are sealed in order to avoid spillage and preserve the amount of product.
Freshness Preservation: Induction sealing not only helps prevent leakage, but it is also a great method for preservation. It can keep unwanted pollutants out and increase the shelf life of certain products.
Pilferage Protection: One of the major benefits in terms of safety when it comes to induction sealing is the pilferage protection. The method can help prevent products from being broken into as it leaves a noticeable residue from the liner itself on plastic containers.
Sustainable: In certain applications, induction sealing is a sustainable option. It can lower bottle weights resulting in less waste. Some businesses have environmental goals and the sustainability of induction sealing can assist in achieving those goals.
Benefits of Induction Sealing
There are a variety of sealing methods. Two common sealing methods include induction and conduction sealing. Induction sealing comes with the following benefits as compared to alternative methods.
Fast Production Time: Induction sealing is much faster as they require very little power resources and start up instantly.
Adjustable: The sealant head can conform to containers that are out of the basic specifications. The adjustability helps when working with various applications.
Basic System: Alternative sealing systems can be complex with various requirements. Because induction sealing doesn’t have complex sensors or heaters, the system reduces the complexity of the process. Despite the basic system, induction sealing is still highly applicable in a variety of industries as what it produces is not compromised.
Specialty O-Ring Seals
If your project requires specialty o-ring seals, contact the team at Real Seal. They are the most trusted manufacturer and distributor of seal products and mechanical component goods. Contact their team today for any of your sealant needs.
Developed in the 1930s, polyurethane has been a highly versatile key polymer. Polyurethane has been used for building insulation, adhesives, surface coatings, solid plastics, and even athletic apparel. Due to its versatility in terms of uses you may wonder, how is polyurethane made? Below you will find helpful information about the polymer and how it is made.
How Is Polyurethane Made?
The Molecular Structure of Polyurethane
In order to effectively understand how polyurethane is made, it’s important to understand its molecular structure. Polyurethane belongs to a larger class of compounds that are referred to as “polymers.” Polymers are macromolecules made up of smaller units, known as “monomers.” Monomers consist of a primary long-chain backbone molecule that also has attached side groups.
Also referred to as “polycarbamates,” polyurethane is a linear polymer that has a molecular backbone that contains carbamate groups. The carbamate groups are referred to as “urethanes” and are produced through a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction is between a polypol and a diisocyanate.
How Is Polyurethane Made?
Polyurethane is produced by reacting monomers through a reaction vessel. The reaction is referred to as “condensation” and is the step necessary to produce polyurethane. The monomers present in the chemical reaction contain reacting end groups, including diisocyanate and diol. The first step in the condensation process links the two molecules together and leaves a reactive alcohol and isocyanate on either side. The two react further to create a larger and longer molecule. The process is rapid and yields high molecular weight materials at just room temperature. Due to the variety of uses of polyurethane, it also contains other functional groups in the molecule. Some include esters, ethers, amides, and urea groups.
Forms of Polyurethane
Polyurethanes are produced in four different forms, including elastomers, coatings, flexible foams, and cross-linked foams.
Elastomers: Polyurethane elastomers are raw materials that can be stretched out. They eventually return to their original shape. This type of polyurethane application is useful in projects that require flexibility, strength, shock absorption, and abrasion resistance. These are most often used in products such as specialty seals, roller skate wheels, mechanical goods, cable jackets, ski boots, and auto parts.
Coatings: Polyurethane coatings are resistant to solvent degradation. They also have good impact resistance as they are often used on surfaces that require abrasion resistance, flexibility, adhesion, fast curing, and chemical resistance. Polyurethane coatings are often used on dance floors and bowling alleys, while water-based coatings are used for aircraft and automobile paint.
Flexible Foams: Polyurethane flexible foams offer high impact strength. In fact, flexible foams are the largest market for polyurethanes as it is highly versatile. They are often used in luxury mattress and seat cushions. Semi-flexible foams are used in car dashboards, door liners, packaging, sponges, squeegees, interior padding, and carpet underlay.
Cross-linked Foams: Cross-linked foams are similar to flexible foams in terms of their use. They are often used to produce insulation in the form of laminate or boards. Laminates are heavily used in the roofing industry.
Real Seal Specialty Seals
If you are considering polyurethane seals, Real Seal is the top polyurethane seal and component product producer. They are well-known for using strong materials, including polyurethane, in addition to having extensive product expertise. They are effective in high pressure hydraulic and water applications, nail or riveting equipment, and in parts that require quick disconnects.
Real Seal’s polyurethane O-rings perform well in a number of applications and environments as it is long-lasting and effective in resisting abrasion. It is an effective engineering material and can be customized to meet your needs. Contact the team at Real Seal today for any of your specialty seal needs.
For those who are working on a project involving polymer-based materials you may wonder, what is thermoset? Below you will find helpful information on the ins and outs of thermoset.
What Is Thermoset?
Thermoset is a term to describe a polymer-based material that is both non-melting and insoluble. Unlike thermoplastic material, which is generally soluble and can be melted, thermoset materials have unique properties that ensure they don’t melt and are insoluble. Even though both materials are classified as polymers, the difference can be found in their structure.
Thermoset vs Thermoplastic Materials
There are a number of differences between thermoset and thermoplastic materials.
Crosslinked Network
With thermoset, pre-polymer, or backbone materials resin is combined with a crosslinking agent under heat and press which forms a crosslinked network. Thermoset network formation can also occur without heat and pressure through the use of radiation or room temperature initiators or promoters.
Unlike thermoset materials, thermoplastic materials do not have a crosslinked network. This is what differentiates thermoset and thermoplastic materials which has many implications. Most importantly, this difference forms the basis for each of their general use profiles as they are both polymer materials.
Moldability
In addition to their structural differences, one of the most obvious differences between thermoset and thermoplastic materials is that thermoplastic materials can be re-shaped, re-formed, and recycled even after they have been processed and molded. The malleability of thermoplastic materials is caused by the change the material undergoes while being processed. The best example of how thermoplastic works is a candle. Candle wax can change shape and be re-shaped even after it is used while still retaining its unique properties.
Thermoset materials do not have this capability. This is due to its structure as thermoset material undergoes a chemical change when it is processed. A chemical reaction occurs and the crosslinking agent chemically bonds to the polymer backbone resin. After this bonding occurs during the chemical process, the material cannot be changed, re-formed, re-processed, or melted. This feature is what makes thermoset materials desirable for a wide variety of applications.
Strength
Thermoset materials are generally much stronger than thermoplastic materials. This is due to the chemical bonding process and structure. They are also much stiffer as they are higher in modulus. They also have unique deformation responses during mechanical loading. Thermoset materials also have better temperature stability due to their structure. This helps them provide a generally stable property response over a broader range of temperature as compared to thermoplastics.
Benefits of Thermoset Materials
Thermoset materials are uniquely different polymers as compared to thermoplastic materials. Consider the following benefits of thermoset materials.
Useful in Various Industries: Because the covalent bonds between the polymer chains in the material cannot be broken easily, thermoset materials can perform in a wide variety of environments, including chemical and corrosive service requirements. This is why they are often used in chemical, energy, mining, and wastewater industries.
Customizable Formation: Thermoset systems offer much more flexibility when it comes to formation. The customizable nature of the material makes it much more advantageous as compared to thermoplastic materials.
Functionalization: Whether you are reinforcing fibers, functional fillers, or performance-enhancing additives, the nature of thermoset-based polymers allows for a much higher loading of additives. This higher loading potential offers broader custom compound formulation. This means you can easily tailor the properties for a higher level of functionalization.
Specialty Seals
The ability of thermoset materials to achieve a high level of customization makes them the top choice for any project. In fact, the customization options engineers and manufacturers to address a wide range of performance challenges. No matter what your sealant needs are, the experts at Real Seal are available to assist you with specialty seals. Contact the team at Real Seal today!
Seals are helpful in preventing leaks, in addition to a number of other advantages. An O-ring is an especially helpful sealant as it is effective in preventing the loss of fluid or gas. Below you will find the advantages of an O-ring.
What is an O-Ring?
An O-ring is a donut-shaped rink that is often from an elastomer. An elastomer is a rubbery material made of long chain-like molecules. This allows it to recover to its original shape after being stretched. O-rings are made from other materials as well, including PTFE, other thermoplastic materials, and metals.
Primarily used for sealing, O-rings help prevent the loss of fluid or gas. It is composed of both an elastomer O-ring and a gland. An O-ring is a circular cross-section rink molded from rubber and the gland contains and supports the O-ring. O-rings can be used in a number of applications. Some applications include:
The pulp and paper industry
Pipe joints
HVAC
Hydraulic seals
And pharmaceutical and medical equipment
Advantages of an O-Ring
When considering the sealants, it’s important to find the one that is right for your unique project. Consider the following advantages of O-rings to determine if they are the right choice.
Versatile:
Among sealants, O-rings are versatile due to their ability to withstand a range of different pressure and temperatures. The tolerance and versatility of an O-ring makes them an effective and reliable option for any project.
Ease of Service:
The low maintenance nature of O-rings makes them ideal for a vast majority of applications. In fact, O-rings don’t require smearing or tightening. Without the need for critical torque on tightening, O-rings are unlikely to cause structural damage. The fact that O-rings don’t require special instruments or tools to operate effectively is an added benefit.
Small and Lightweight:
O-rings have a simple structure and design. They are small, lightweight, and easy to use. The simplicity of their structure makes them easy to both install and replace.
Reusable:
A major advantage of O-rings over other seals is that it can be reused in many cases. Because issues with O-rings are easily identifiable, they can easily be reused without the fear of an unexpected malfunction.
Longevity:
Depending on the project, material, and how you care for the seal, O-rings can last years to decades. This is especially beneficial as O-rings not only operate effectively, but they last.
Easily Identifiable Issues:
Due to the importance of sealants, issues with O-rings can be major. However, issues with O-rings are easily identifiable making them a safe and effective option. Addressing issues with O-rings is also fairly simple as they don’t require a lot of special tools and aren’t overly complicated in terms of their shape and function.
Cost-Effective:
O-rings are a cost-effective solution as they are both long lasting and durable. Depending on the use and type of O-ring they can last years to decades if properly taken care of. This is because the materials used for O-rings are the most accessible and least expensive as compared to alternatives.
Real Seal Specialty Seals
If you need seals for your project, contact the team at Real Seal Specialty Seals. They are skilled in providing materials and designs that can effectively solve your seal application issues. Due to the unique nature of O-rings, Real Seal can develop effective solutions for any of your applications to not only enhance the performance, but also ensure the integrity of the process. While O-rings are consistently the same shape, their thickness can be adapted to your unique project. Contact the team at Real Seal today for any of your sealant needs!
When considering high-temperature plastics, it’s important to choose the best quality material for your projects. High-temperature plastics, also referred to as heat-resistant plastic, offer a variety of benefits. They are lightweight and versatile alternatives to metal, ceramics, and older polymers. These features have made heat-resistant plastics highly popular. Below you will find examples of high temp plastics to help you determine which is right for your projects.
Examples of High Temp Plastics
There is a wide variety of heat-resistant plastics, but not all of them are created equally. Below you will find the most popular high-temperature plastics that have a proven record of success.
Ryton: Also referred to as polyphenylene sulfide, Ryton is an organic heat-resistant polymer. It can be molded, extruded, and machined to high tolerances and has a maximum service temperature of 218 degrees Celsius. Ryton won’t dissolve in any solvent at temperatures of 200 degrees Celsius or below. It also has a good flammability rating even without flame-retardant additives. Ryton is used to replace metals, thermosets, lower-performing plastics in motors and controls, specialty seals, pumps, fans, blowers, and certain HVAC components.
Vespel: Vespel is highly heat resistant. In fact, the material is a non-melting polyimide that can withstand repeated heating up to 300 degrees Celsius. The plastics thermal and mechanical properties are not altered at these high temperatures. With filler material, Vespel can withstand even higher heat. Depending on the type and amount of filler, the material can withstand up to 398 degrees Celsius for up to 350 hours. At this level of heat, Vespel only loses fifty percent of its initial tensile strength (due to oxidative degradation). The amount of strength lost can be mitigated if the parts are in inert environments, such as nitrogen. Because of the major benefits, Vespel is often a go-to choice for projects involving industrial machinery, automobiles, and jet engines.
Torlon: This type of plastic is a polyamide-imide that provides room temperature properties of other types of plastic at a whopping 204 degrees Celsius. It also has outstanding long-term stiffness and strength up to 260 degrees Celsius. The high-temperature plastic is resistant to wear, creep, strong acids, and most organic chemicals. Torlon is a highly effective alternative to metal in certain applications, specifically high-temperature friction and wear applications. It has excellent bearing properties when combined with thermoplastic materials. This type of high-temperature plastic is a great option for severe service environments, including aircraft hardware and fasteners, structural and mechanical components, power train components and transmissions, coatings, composites, and additives.
Noryl: This plastic is a blend of two polymers, polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene. The combination helps Noryl stay stable in boiling water as polystyrene increases the glass transition temperature above 100 degrees Celsius. The high-temperature plastic has a maximum service temperature of 105 degrees Celsius and a melting point of 154 degrees Celsius. Noryl can be used in a variety of applications, including solar panels and electrical insulating material as it has extremely low water absorption.
Choosing Your High Temp Plastics
If you are unsure about which high-temperature plastics are right for your projects, contact the experts at Real Seal. It can be difficult to determine the right materials for your project so getting help can streamline your project goals. They are skilled in seal products and mechanical component goods, including thermoset materials. They specialize in performance-oriented rubber and plastic materials. Their state-of-the-art technology has made them an industry leader as they have a fully equipped laboratory and chemist. Contact the experts at Real Seal today for support with your next project!
