Sector
There are many applications requiring O-Rings that operate at low temperatures. Despite this, low temperature performance is often overlooked when considering seal performance.
Low Temperature
O-Rings subjected to low temperatures can typically fail when the seal material hardens at its low temperature limit and resists deformation to pressure, causing leak paths.
The O-Ring may also take a higher than normal compression set, which allows leakage. It is vital that the correct material is selected to achieve the required performance from the seal at low temperatures.
Standard low temperature tests are performed to measure material performance. These tests include:
Eastern Seals UK Ltd. can offer low temperature O-Rings that meet the demands required for a wide range of applications. The company supplies a variety of low temperature materials to suit each unique application.
Eastern Seals also offers specialist low temperature O-Rings, from Anti-Explosive Decompression compounds and Norsok M-710 approved compounds through to specialist seals for cryogenic applications.
Encapsulated O-Rings, including FEPs and PFAs, are recommended when a standard O-Ring has inadequate chemical resistance for an application and a solid PTFE O-Ring does not have the elasticity for reliable, long-term fluid sealing.
FEP with a Silicone core will seal down to -60°C. A spring version is also available for cryogenic applications to -250°C.
Industries including pharmaceutical, medical and chemical processing can encounter low temperature cryogenic conditions where it is very difficult to achieve effective liquid or gas sealing.
Spring O-Rings are ideal for sealing at extremely low temperatures where traditional elastomers suffer from brittleness. Low compression sets allow effective sealing as low as -250°C. Prices are very reasonable considering the technical merits of this product, and lead times for Spring O-Rings are approximately 14 to 21 days for the standard range.