Buna O-rings are one of the most widely used seals in industry. They are also called nitrile or NBR O-rings. Engineers specify them for hydraulic systems, fuel handling, and general industrial equipment. Procurement teams like them too, because they cost little and are easy to find. However, Buna O-rings are not the right fit for […]
Automotive seal materials and industrial seals are built for volume, so cost per part matters as much as performance. Even so, these seals face a wide mix of conditions, including engine oils, fuels, coolants, weather, and high-pressure hydraulics. Fortunately, a handful of proven materials covers most of these needs. This article explains which compounds fit […]
Food-grade O-rings must be safe before they can be durable. These seals touch the product directly, so the compound must meet FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 and often 3-A or NSF standards. At the same time, it must survive hot CIP chemicals, steam, fats, and oils. This article explains how to choose O-ring materials approved for […]
Oil and gas seal materials often work where failure is hardest to fix. Subsea equipment, sour wells, and refinery units combine high pressure, extreme temperatures, and aggressive fluids. In addition, replacing a seal can mean pulling equipment or shutting down a unit. This article explains which compounds resist explosive decompression, H2S, and high-temperature refinery service. […]
dealing Aerospace O-ring materials must perform in extreme conditions and pass strict documentation requirements. They face jet fuel, hydraulic fluids, and temperatures from -65°F at altitude to the heat of an engine bay. Just as important, most applications call out a specific MIL-SPEC or AMS material. This article covers the compounds approved for aerospace hydraulic […]
Chemical-resistant seals rarely face just one chemical. Over its life, a single pump or valve may see solvents, acids, caustics, and cleaning agents. Consequently, a seal that handles one stream can fail quickly in the next. This article explains how to choose seal materials by solvent family, from ketones and aromatics to strong bases and […]
In a semiconductor fab, plasma-resistant seals protect both the tool and the wafer. Particles, outgassing, and plasma erosion from a single O-ring can lead to wafer defects and costly downtime. Therefore, fab seals must be exceptionally pure as well as resistant to heat and aggressive chemistry. This article covers the best compounds for CVD and […]
Pharmaceutical processing seals carry more responsibility than most. A single failed O-ring can contaminate a batch, stall a validated process, or put a patient at risk. As a result, these seals must resist potent APIs, survive repeated steam sterilization, and meet FDA and USP Class VI requirements. This article covers the elastomer seal materials that […]
Why Elastomer Seal Materials Determine Seal Life A seal rarely fails because of its size. Instead, it usually fails because the material was wrong for the job. Chemicals swell it, steam hardens it, or plasma erodes it. As a result, choosing the right elastomer seal materials is the most important step in seal design. This […]
Choosing aerospace seal materials starts with one question: what fluid will the seal touch? Some fluids are mild, like petroleum hydraulic oil. Others, like hypergolic propellants, attack almost every elastomer. As a result, the wrong choice can lead to swelling, cracking, or leaks. This guide walks through three common fluid groups: Aviation hydraulic fluids Jet […]
FFKM Lead Times Are Stretching. Here’s How to Keep Your Project Moving. If you specify FFKM, you’ve probably felt it. FFKM lead times across the market have been stretching. Availability of premium compounds is getting tighter in places it never used to. And if a project is sitting on material, that’s a real problem. Why […]
Most sealing problems don’t get solved with a bigger catalog. They get solved by an engineer who can look at a failure mode, a groove print, or a chemical compatibility chart and change the design. Unlike standard sealing distributors, Marco Sealing Solutions (formerly Marco Rubber & Plastics) delivers engineered sealing solutions. When a customer calls with […]
