# What You Need To Know About O- Rings

Since its invention in the late 1800s, O-ring technology has advanced significantly. Maintaining the seal and the overall system or application integrity depends on choosing the right O-ring design and material. When choosing an O-ring for your application, it's important to consider more than just size and material. What more factors should be considered? The load, pressure, temperatures, and the application itself. Everything related to O- O-rings from Metric O-Ring Supplier will be covered here.

## **Tips for Choosing the Finest O Rings**

**Application**

When deciding on dimensions, elastomer type, and other crucial specifications, the application plays a significant role. Both static (like a face seal) and dynamic (like a radial or piston seal) configurations of O-rings are possible. Assembling an O-ring from a Metric O-Ring Supplier correctly requires knowledge of the precise dimensions of the grooves, assembly clearances, and manufacturing tolerances.

**Size**

In inches, there are more than 400 standard AS568A O-ring sizes, and in meters, there are many more. You can save a ton of time and money on custom tooling, formulations, lead times, and more by just using a standard-sized O-ring in your application. An entirely bespoke O-ring will still be necessary for certain uses, though.

**Temperature**

The introduction of novel processes, chemicals, and other innovations across all key industries necessitates updated machinery, revised specifications, and expanded temperature tolerances. In extremely cold environments, like space, modern O-rings must be able to endure much lower temperatures than their predecessors. Because of their unique composition, O-ring compound elastomers are effective across a broad temperature spectrum. To choose the right elastomer for your application, you must be aware of the temperature range in which the O-ring must operate.

**Exposure**

The O-ring from a Metric O-Ring Supplier (and your product) could fail if you choose the wrong elastomer compound for your application. Every elastomer compound has its own set of pros and cons. You must be aware of the types, concentrations, and durations of exposure to gases, fluids, chemicals, temperatures, and more to which the O-ring will be subject.

**Load**

It is not uncommon for O-ring specifications to omit load. Compressing an O-ring into a seal groove is essential for its proper sealing. The O-ring presses against the groove on both ends, much like a compressed spring. They are capable of compressing between 19% and 30%. Durometers measure this deformation. Compounds with lower durometers are better for low-pressure applications and higher durometers for high-pressure ones.

**Permeability**

Gas type, temperature, pressure, and material hardness affect how much gas can pass through an O-ring. Squeeze, O-ring cross-section size, lubrication, and material compression are other factors. Compounds with a high durometer have slower diffusion rates. Reduced permeability is the outcome of a more tightly squeezed seal. While O-rings lubricated from the outside can reduce permeability, they also increase the risk of contamination.

## **Function of O-Rings**

O-rings from a Metric O-Ring Supplier capitalize on the elasticity of rubber, a key characteristic of the material. In technical terms, the term "compression set" better describes this property. Because of its elastic force, an O-ring creates a leak-proof seal when compressed between two mating surfaces by pushing back. An O-ring returns to its initial shape upon release of the compressive force. This allows for many sealing and unsealing cycles of the system before an O-ring starts to show symptoms of fatigue and stops sealing properly.
In light of the foregoing, it is reasonable to assume that an O-ring's sealing life is directly proportional to its compression set, with a lower compression set indicating better-sealing life. The lower compression sets of high-quality O-rings allow them to serve their purpose for many years without wearing out.

## Usages for O-Rings

Two main groups describe O-ring applications:

**Static O-Ring Seal**

The term "static O-ring seal" describes an O-ring that does not move when the two surfaces that compress it remain still. This method of sealing is both simple and ancient. Compared to dynamic applications, these O-rings have a longer operational life. This application also has a very basic groove design.

**Dynamic O-Ring Seal**

O-rings find additional use in dynamic applications when there is motion between the mating surfaces. It is more difficult to implement this type of application. Because these uses wear down the O-ring surface, which affects its sealing performance, it's important to use sturdy materials and have a well-designed O-ring.

## Conclusion

Choosing the right O-ring from a **[Metric O-Ring Supplier](https://oringswest.com/)** is crucial for project success and seal. However, choosing the right seal may be difficult. Get professional advice before deciding on a seal for your project. Your process engineer is in the best position to determine which materials and finishing treatments will work best for your application, but they are here to help in any way they can.