Silicone is a popular material choice for O-rings due to its many beneficial properties, including extreme temperature compatibility, chemical resistance, and more. These characteristics make silicone O-rings an ideal choice for many demanding industries such as medical, pharmaceutical, military, and food and beverage.
At Arizona Sealing Devices, we’re a major supplier of standard, Mil-Spec, and FDA-compliant silicone O-rings that meet the needs of both general and specialized industrial applications. Learn about the advantages of silicone O-rings and their many uses below.
The Value and Benefits of Silicone O-Rings
Silicone O-rings offer numerous advantages over other materials. For example, nitrile O-rings don’t match silicone in terms of temperature and weather resistance; Viton (FKM) O-rings aren’t as electrically insulating or flexible at low temperatures as silicone; and EPDM O-rings don’t perform well with petroleum-based oils and are less suitable for medical and food applications than silicone.
Silicone O-rings from Arizona Sealing Devices offers numerous benefits, including:
- Bio-inert characteristics
- Flexibility
- Ability to withstand various external factors
In addition to the above, one of the most important properties of our silicone O-rings is their high- and low-temperature performance:
- High-temperature flexibility: Silicone O-rings can withstand high temperatures without losing integrity or flexibility. This makes them a great choice for applications in hot environments, including industrial machinery, oil and gas exploration, and automotive engines. Silicone O-rings also offer great thermal stability, meaning they can withstand continuous temperature fluctuations without experiencing deterioration.
- Low-temperature flexibility: Silicone O-rings maintain their flexibility, pliability, and sealing properties even at extremely low temperatures. Unlike other materials, silicone won’t crack or become brittle at sub-zero temperatures. This is crucial for low-temperature applications such as cryogenics, refrigeration, and outdoor equipment.
To meet the needs of various industries, we can supply silicone O-rings suitable for use in a wide range of temperatures.
Material Properties & Industry Applications for Silicone O-Rings
Silicone can withstand temperatures between -75° (without becoming brittle) and 450° F and can be formulated to meet a variety of compliance requirements, including FDA, USDA, MIL-STD-413C, MIL-STD-105E, MIL-I-45208A, USP Class VI, Canada AG, and 3-A standards. They have a hardness between 30 and 80 shore A Durometers. The properties of silicone rubber make it a generally non-reactive and stable material, allowing it to resist a range of harsh conditions. It can perform in demanding applications, and its properties make it ideal for medical devices, electronics, military and aerospace, food storage applications, and more.
Applications of FDA Silicone O-Rings
In addition to standard silicone O-rings, Arizona Sealing Devices offers FDA-compliant silicone O-rings for applications that come into contact with pharmaceuticals, food, and medical devices. Our FDA-grade silicone materials are safe and non-toxic, making them suitable for industries with high safety and purity standards.
Key features of our FDA silicone O-rings include:
- Biocompatibility: FDA silicone O-rings don’t cause negative reactions when in contact with biological fluids or tissues.
- Chemical compatibility: FDA silicone O-rings are compatible with various chemicals without leaching harmful substances.
- Purity: FDA silicone O-rings are free from impurities and contaminants that could affect product safety.
These features make FDA silicone O-rings ideal for the following applications:
- Food processing: Containers, valves, food processing machinery and equipment
- Medical devices: Catheters, implants, and other medical equipment
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Pharmaceutical packaging, equipment, syringes, and vials
Aerospace and Defense Silicone O-Ring Applications
Silicone O-rings from Arizona Sealing Devices can be used in a wide range of aerospace and military systems to create a leak-proof seal and ensure safe, high-performance operations. Common applications include:
- Fuel systems
- Hydraulic systems
- Oxygen systems
- Pneumatic systems
Electronics Silicone O-Rings Applications
Silicone O-rings are used throughout the electronics industry to seal away dust, moisture, and other contaminants that could damage sensitive electrical components. Common applications include:
- Electronic enclosures
- Medical devices
- Connectors
- Batteries
- Sensors
Applications of Standard Silicone O-Rings
Standard silicone O-rings from Arizona Sealing Devices are ideal for a wide variety of applications, such as:
- Industrial equipment
- Laboratory equipment
- Refrigeration systems
Our standard silicone O-rings can also be used for fittings and valves in outdoor settings, including those with ozone exposure and other unique environmental conditions.
High-Quality Silicone O-Rings from Arizona Sealing Devices
At Arizona Sealing Devices, we can provide standard, Mil-Spec, and FDA-compliant silicone O-rings for diverse industries. For each customer request, our expert team carefully reviews all of our products to find the most suitable solution for their application. This, combined with our commitment to quality, is what makes new and existing customers turn to us for their sealing product needs.
Contact Arizona Sealing Devices or request a quote today to learn more about our comprehensive line of silicone O-rings.
Silicone O-Ring FAQs
What is a silicone O-ring?
Made from elastomers, O-rings are molded into a ring shape and have a circular cross-section. Depending on the application, O-rings can be customized with unique cross-sections such as L- or T-shapes. They can also come in a cord-like form made of plastic or similar materials. The cord can be cut to length and connected at both ends for a custom fit. These versatile components are used in many static and dynamic applications to seal liquids and gases. Silicone is an ideal material for O-rings, offering various characteristics to improve performance, including:
- Fungal growth resistance
- UV, oxygen, and ozone resistance
- Withstands extreme temperatures
- Weather resistance
- Withstands oil and grease from plant or animal sources
- Electrically insulating
- Flexible
- Resists compression
How do silicone O-rings work?
Silicone O-rings are activated by pressure to form a seal. They can effectively seal under high pressures and begin to deform as pressure is applied, pressing the silicone ring against the gland walls or seal joints. The seal provides a mechanical barrier to block fluids from entering the seal when pressurized.