Figuring out the physical dimensions and design of a seal is a challenging process, but the material is just as important. Selecting the wrong sealing material can lead to leakage or even more catastrophic failure. Some materials are impermeable to certain liquids and vapors, while others will let them slip through microscopic pores.
If you’re looking for a seal, make sure to select the right material based upon its properties and the forces acting upon it. Here are some things to remember when trying to figure out which seal material is right for your application.
Temperature Tolerance
One of the most common issues that applications must deal with includes high heat applications. Friction, direct heating, vibration, and other forces contribute to the heating of a seal. It’s often not enough to just know the standard operating range of one part of a process, as an entire range of other factors can come into play once the whole operation is connected and putting strain on a seal.
Some materials to consider when deciding on a seal in a high heat application include:
- Fluorocarbon, which has a range of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, is a common choice for such operations.
- Silicone, which has a range of 500 degrees Fahrenheit; however, it has a lower physical strength than some other materials.
Low temperature applications have their own risks, as well. Melting isn’t the only temperature-related problem that seals not designed for a particular environment can be affected by. When seals that aren’t designed for cold temperatures are put in these conditions, they can become brittle and freeze, eventually breaking, cracking, or fracturing.
Silicone is a good choice for extremely cold temperatures, as it is able to handle extreme cold reaching as low as -175 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remember that when choosing a material based on its ability to withstand temperature, it should be able to handle the highest ranges an operation can reach. If the industrial application is cyclical, then it should be fine with every range of factors, not just the most constant environmental conditions.
Chemical Compatibility
Most seals are used to keep in, or out, certain products. Whether it’s liquid, vapor, or a kind of slurry, the chemical composition of the material the seal is made of and how it handles these products needs to be taken into account. Some chemicals will be abrasive to the seal, wearing it down physically. Other products will react chemically with certain industrial sealing materials, causing the seal to weaken and eventually break. If the wrong seal is chosen it may also allow the product or its byproducts to escape, causing loss of efficiency and money.
Not only is it important to take into account the products and byproducts a seal is keeping in, the surrounding environment can be equally problematic. If the operation is outside, underwater, or in an area where the seal may come into contact with other products, then these factors should be taken just as seriously as those directly in the application. A seal that can’t handle water won’t be any help to a system outside in a rainy area.
Silicone, for example, is resistant to high-aniline point oils and is excellent for these applications, but on the other hand it is weak to steam.
Physical Properties
In dynamic applications where a seal is against a moving part or may be moved itself, the physical properties of a material become vital. If a seal is too rigid or hard in an application with a lot of movement, then it may break or even damage the machinery itself. On the other hand, in static applications a flexible is probably unnecessary, allowing for a harder material seal to be used if it is better for the application or more economical.
Making the Right Industrial Seal Material Choice
When it comes to the final decision of what material your seal will be, it’s important to consult an expert to prevent seal failure, which can be expensive and time-consuming to fix. Testing the seal or having a provider that has dealt with similar applications before and can recommend the right material is key. Real Seal is a leader in the sealing industry, with over 30 years of experience. Contact Real Seal today to find the right industrial seal material for your operation.
