When standard molded seals don’t fit your required dimensions, vulcanized o-rings offer a highly effective solution. Arizona Sealing Devices supplies a wide variety of custom vulcanized O-rings, and we’ve been doing so since 1989. As an AS9120B and ISO 9001 certified, NIST 800-171, DFARS, and ITAR compliant company, we’re a trusted supplier and distributor of vulcanized O-rings.
Materials Available for Vulcanized O-Rings
Selecting the right material is critical for your application, specific points, such as chemical resistance and high-temperature requirements. Our material options include:
- Buna/Nitrile: Cost-effective resistance to petroleum-based oils, fuels, and grease.
- EPDM: Durable against outdoor weathering, UV radiation, ozone, hot water, and steam.
- Fluorocarbon (Viton): High-temperature stability (up to 200°C/400°F) and broad resistance to fuels, oils, and aggressive chemicals.
- Silicone: Wide operational temperature range (-60°C to +230°C) paired with excellent flexibility and biocompatibility.
- Fluorosilicone: Low-temperature flexibility along with resistance to fuels, oils, and hydrocarbons.
- Aflas: High-temperature resistance to hot water, steam, strong acids, bases, and others.
- Butyl: Low gas and moisture permeability (airtight/watertight sealing).
- Neoprene: All-around balanced performance with moderate resistance to weather, water, mild oils, and impact.
- Kalrez: Near-universal chemical inertness with elastomeric sealing performance at extreme temperatures (up to 325°C/617°F).
- PTFE (Teflon): Near total chemical inertness paired with an extremely low coefficient of friction. We supply these additional materials for diverse industrial requirements.
- Polyurethane: High abrasion, tear, and cut resistance with load-bearing strength. We supply both cast and millable polyurethane.
Sizing and Specifications for Vulcanized O-Rings
Because vulcanized o-rings are spliced from extruded cord stock, they can be supplied in virtually any diameter.
Our team frequently assists design engineers and purchasing/procurement managers who need help solving sizing applications. We serve customers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Cutting Techniques for Vulcanized O-Rings
The two cutting options for vulcanized O-ring preparation are the bevel cut and the butt cut. In bevel cutting, we typically cut the cord stock at a 45º angle prior to aligning and fusing its ends together. The idea behind this technique is to improve joint strength by increasing the available bonding surface area. With butt cutting, we instead create a straight-edged cut, making perpendicular cuts on the cord ends as compared to the cord length. Once the ends are aligned and the material is vulcanized, the product is complete.
Whether a manufacturer chooses a bevel cut or butt cut to create vulcanized O-rings is dependent on the selected material, the intended end-use for the O-ring, and the necessary seal strength. These choices will impact the dependability and performance of the vulcanized O-ring in providing a secure seal.
What are the Benefits of Vulcanized O-Rings?
Vulcanized O-rings are advantageous for their:
- Sizing flexibility: One of the primary benefits of vulcanized O-rings is that they’re the perfect choice when a standard-sized O-ring won’t enable an ideal fit. Vulcanized O-rings give you an option when you’re looking for an oversized O-ring.
- Insulative capacity: Vulcanized O-rings can serve as good insulators against fluctuating temperatures and electrical currents, possessing a low dielectric constant.
Industries and Common Applications
Vulcanized o-rings are widely utilized across the primary markets we serve:
- Military & Defense: fuel and hydraulic systems, large hatch and vehicle enclosures, airtight storage containers.
- Medical: Fluid control and diagnostic equipment, autoclaves, surgical and respiratory machinery.
- Food & Beverage: Filling and dispensing equipment, sanitary process pipes and valves, thermal SIP and CIP systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are vulcanized o-rings made?
Manufacturers make O-rings from rubber by cutting cord stock and then fusing its two ends together. To do so, they start by applying uncured material in its liquid form to each end. The cord stock then goes into a heated mold with its ends touching. The pressure and heat between them cause the ends to cure together, generating a chemical bond of great strength due to the cross-links formed between the material’s long-chain molecules. Vulcanized O-rings are manufacturable in non-standard sizes from a range of elastomer options.
What factors affect sealing performance in vulcanized o-rings?
The ability of a vulcanized o-ring to form and maintain a secure seal depends on whether the materials it is made from are compatible with operational and environmental conditions, including:
- Operating temperature and pressure
- Exposure to chemicals, UV radiation, or harsh weather
- Whether the application is static or dynamic
Extreme conditions and ongoing movement accelerate wear and often decrease the useful life of a seal, so it’s critical to select materials that can withstand the applicable conditions.
What information is required to place an order at Arizona Sealing?
At a minimum, you need to provide the material, size, and quantity you need. The below list of information is optional, but highly recommended because it helps us with material selection considerations as well as order processing:
- The intended application or operating environment
- Operating temperature range
- Chemical exposure (if any)
- Operating pressure
- Static or dynamic use
What are your typical lead times?
Lead times vary based on product type, availability, and customization requirements. Our general lead time for fulfillment is 1-4 weeks. Most projects require 1–4 week lead time. Providing complete technical details when you place your order speeds up sourcing and reduces delays.
What packaging standards do you support?
Packaging is available to AMS 2817 and Mil-STD 130 standards for traceability and compliance for regulated industries.
What certifications do you hold?
Arizona Sealing is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and AS9120B, and we comply with NIST 800-171 and DFARS.
Choose a Reliable Sealing Supplier for Your Vulcanized O-Rings
Our customers choose us for our honesty, competitive pricing, and reliable delivery. We maintain ISO 9001:2015 and AS9120B certifications and are NIST 800-171, DFARS, and ITAR compliant. We will help you find the exact seal for your application, ensuring your specific dimensions and material needs are met. Request a quote for your next project or contact us with any questions.