More compression isn’t always better for O-Rings. Discover how proper squeeze, groove design, and material selection impact seal performance and prevent premature failure.

Discover the advantages of PTFE O-rings for demanding sealing applications. From extreme temperature resistance to chemical compatibility, learn why industries trust PTFE—and why Rocket Seals is Colorado’s…

Learn the key differences between FFKM and FKM O-rings, including temperature and chemical resistance, cost, and real-world performance. Discover how to choose the right material for your application—and…

Spliced and vulcanized O-rings offer a custom fit, fast turnaround, and cost savings by eliminating the need for expensive molds. They provide durable, high-quality seals for industries like aerospace,…

Q Rings (Quad/X Rings) and Square Cut Rings may serve similar sealing functions, but their design, performance, and durability set them apart. Choosing the right seal depends on factors like pressure conditions,…

Encapsulated O-rings combine the flexibility of elastomers with the chemical resistance of PTFE or FEP coatings, making them ideal for demanding sealing applications in chemical processing, pharmaceuticals,…

Discover how to maintain seal performance in extreme cold environments. Learn about material selection, design considerations, and sealing solutions built for harsh conditions.

Learn how durometer impacts seal performance and discover the key factors to consider when choosing the right hardness for your sealing applications

Learn about the impact of ozone on o-rings, which materials offer the best ozone resistance, and maintenance tips to extend o-ring lifespan in challenging environments.

Learn about oil seals, their types, applications, and benefits to ensure machinery efficiency and longevity. Discover how to choose the right oil seal for your needs.

Learn how to prevent common seal failures in mechanical and hydraulic systems to enhance machinery efficiency.

Everything to know about energized seals and their critical role in high-pressure industries: learn about types, designs, applications, and future advancements.

Learn the importance of back-up rings in high-stakes industries like aerospace and automotive. Discover types, materials, and best practices for optimal sealing performance.

Discover the benefits of quad rings and learn about their superiority in sealing technology for a variety of industrial applications.

Improve your hydraulic system's efficiency with 7 expert seal installation tips from Rocket Seals.

Peek elastomer

Baker 20 Kits

Readi-Seal Joint Sealant

How much squeeze is right?

Bloom on O-Rings

Peroxide or sulphur cured EPDM

What are the difference between coated or encapsulated o-rings

Self-lubing O-rings

October 2017

A wide variety of food and beverage manufactures require FDA-grade compliant materials. What are the most common FDA-grade materials for o-rings?

Temperature is critical.

Chemical compatibility of common elastomers

Durometer is one of several measures of hardness of objects like rubber and plastic.

COMMON SEAL FAILURES

A mechanical seal is simply a method of containing fluid within a vessel (typically pumps, mixers, etc.) where a rotating shaft passes through a stationary housing or occasionally, where the housing rotates…

When high temperature conditions require high tensile strength and resistance, one elastomer comes to mind:Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR).

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We tend to think of back up rings as being used with O-Rings, but they're also used with T-seals, an O-Ring substitute, and U-Seals. Click here to learn more.

Compression packing which is also called braided packing or rope packing.

Most fluid systems have fasteners that must be sealed. Face Seals feature an elastomeric sealing element molded in place within a metal retainer (washer).

Thread seals have been designed to seal the threads of machine screws, studs, and similar items.

Piston seals are popularly used for closing gaps or sealing off joints in hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders.

Choosing the proper material is as crucial to the success of an O-Ring as the design.

They are actually two different types of O-Rings. Encapsulated O-Rings are an O-Ring (usually silicone or FKM) covered with a Teflon tube.

Neoprene is a commercial name for polymers comprised of chloroprene. It is the first commercially successful substitute for natural rubber in the United States.

Chemraz® is a trademark of Greene Tweed and is a member of the perfluoroelastomer polymer family—polymers of three or more monomers in which all hydrogen positions have been replaced with fluorine.

DuPont™ Kalrez® perfluoroelastomer parts (FFKM) resist over 1,800 different chemicals, while offering the high temperature stability of PTFE (327°C).

O-RING FAILURE ANALYSIS

The sliding movements of components, i.e. a piston in a tube, risk metal-to-metal contact that will damage and score the surfaces and eventually cause seal damage, leakage and component damage.

Standard O-Rings and Metric O-Rings are typically described by their Internal Diameter (ID), Radial Cross Section (CS), Rubber Material from which they are constructed plus the material Hardness on a Shore…

Q Rings have an x-shaped profile, commonly called the X-ring, Q-ring, or by the trademarked name Quad Ring.

It is important to install packing sets correctly to get optimum performance.

Sometimes, the job may call for simple V-Packing Seals – a male and female adapter supported by a number of intermediate rings determined by the system pressure.

Lexus GX 470 and GX 460 SUVs are fine cars, but they can be incredibly expensive to fix.

The term silicone covers a large group of materials in which vinyl-methyl-silicone (VMQ) is often the central ingredient.

The Metal Clad (MC) wiper usually contains a Nitrile or Urethane wiper encased in a metal retainer.

Snap-in wiper seals are designed without any metal component and are easy to install without any special equipment.

Oil seals are for rotating shafts and are specifically designed to prevent oil or grease leakage at a maximum pressure of 10 psi.

U Cup seals, as their name implies, have a U-shaped profile, including an outside static sealing lip and an inside dynamic sealing lip.

Piston cups are used on piston heads, plungers or rams in pneumatic or hydraulic applications.

EPR (referred to by some companies as EPM) is shorthand for Ethylene Propylene rubber, and is very closely related to EPDM, or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer.

FKM, also known as Fluorocarbon or Viton® is a brand of synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer.

Buna is one of the most widely used O-Ring elastomer compounds. The others are Ethylene Propylene(EPR), Fluorocarbon(FKM), and Silicone(VMQ).

Spliced and Vulcanized O-Rings are custom sized O-Rings made for any application.

Durometer is the international standard for measuring the hardness of objects like rubber and plastic.

Is your BMW misfiring or idling rough? It’s likely an issue with your DISA Valve (or “Intake Manifold Adjustor”).

There are THREE crucial dimensions to measure when trying to find the right size of O Ring.