The word “seal” conjures up numerous images, depending on the person, but remarkably, we all use a number of devices that have seal systems every day. The water system in our homes must have a seal system in order to direct the flow of water to showers, sinks, washers, etc, and this becomes more complex when we add hot water heaters and water softening or RO systems. The quality, pressure, and in many ways the cost of your water system can be quite dependent on the sealing system utilized. When you drive a car, the fuel distribution system, hydraulic brake system, cooling system, suspension system, steering system, transmission, and air conditioning all depend on a solid seal system. Most consumer products are produced on an assembly line with extensive pneumatic systems which require seal systems for robotics. It is a unique field, but an extensive one… and Real Seal has more than 40 years of experience with seal systems here in San Diego.
Most engineers are trained in the mechanical engineering basics, or have a specific background in electronic, computer, civil, aeronautical, or other engineering disciplines. Seals and Gaskets have their own unique set of engineering driven features and constraints. When considering the performance of a seal system, the following is a basic framework for consideration:
- What is the media that the seal will be in contact with?
- What temperature is the application likely to endure?
- What physical constraints will the seal see (pressures, friction, elongation, set, etc)?
- Are there specific performance or longevity requirements?
- Are there regulatory requirements (FDA, NSF, ACS, etc)?
- Are there any special assembly requirements?
- Are there any aesthetic requirements?
Once these basic questions are answered, Real Seal engineers can normally make the best material recommendation, and provide design support for the application.
Real Seal has developed a multitude of materials for specific applications, and many have proven to be quite challenging. Examples of successful seal system material development would include:
- An FKM material developed for the soft drink dispensing industry, which stands up to the wide range of soft drinks on the market today. Although it may seem mundane from the outside perspective, the chemistry of today’s soft drinks covers the gambit of ph, and many of the newer energy drinks have ingredients which can be quite harsh on dispensing systems. The Real Seal material stands up to all of these drinks, and does not swell like conventional materials, which allowed a precision solenoid valve to work flawlessly. The material also passed Coke’s taste test, and was submitted for NSF approval.
- A Silicone material developed for the Integrated Circuit chip manufacturing process, when the chips are cured in a vacuum tube. Conventional seals were degrading in the high heat environment, and the smoke that was emitted contaminated the chips… the new silicone alleviated this issue.
- An EPDM material formulated to stand up to a high shear strength challenge in a filter application. The EPDM material had to be formulated to meet a number of regulatory requirements, including NSF, ACS, and WRC, yet still have physical properties that would withstand tensile and tear strength requirements that other materials fell apart in. Real Seal developed the material in less than (30) days, and had prototypes in the hands of the engineer within days of development. The material worked, and is now specified in multiple applications throughout the products the customer sells.
Real Seal has developed a unique way to provide seal systems across numerous applications, and do it quickly and effectively here in San Diego. For your challenging seal system needs, please consider Real Seal as a resource to help overcome the challenges that the market brings to your high performance products.
