O-Rings

O-Rings are torus-shaped (i.e. doughnut-shaped) objects made from elastomeric compounds such as natural or synthetic rubber, and are used to seal mechanical parts against fluid movement (air or liquid).

O-Rings perform their sealing action by deforming to take the shape of their cavity, after being oversized to guarantee a predetermined interference fit. The seal is designed to have a point contact between the o-ring and sealing faces. This allows a high local stress, able to contain high pressure, without exceeding the yield stress of the o-ring body. The flexible nature of o-ring materials accommodates imperfections in the mounting parts. They can withstand fluid pressures upto 100 bar (1500lbs/in2) provided such seals are properly designed and applied. The pressure ratings of the dynamic O-ring seal can be enhanced by using suitable back-up rings. The back-up rings may be of acetal resin, PTFE or Fabric reinforced rubber.

O-Rings perform their sealing action by deforming to take the shape of their cavity, after being oversized to guarantee a predetermined interference fit. The seal is designed to have a point contact between the o-ring and sealing faces. This allows a high local stress, able to contain high pressure, without exceeding the yield stress of the o-ring body. The flexible nature of o-ring materials accommodates imperfections in the mounting parts. They can withstand fluid pressures upto 100 bar (1500lbs/in2) provided such seals are properly designed and applied. The pressure ratings of the dynamic O-ring seal can be enhanced by using suitable back-up rings. The back-up rings may be of acetal resin, PTFE or Fabric reinforced rubber.

An O-Ring is specified by its inner diameter, cross-section diameter, material hardness/durometer (typically defined by the Shore A hardness), and material composition. "Vijay seals" hold stocks of most commercially available O-Rings in both Metric and Imperial sizes, available in the following materials: - Nitrile Butadiene, Silicone, Poly Tetra Fluro Ethylene (PTFE), Neoprene, Viton (Flurocarbon), Polyurethane, Ethylene Propelene Diene Monomer (EPDM) etc.