Case Study: Customizing Silicone O-Rings for Aerospace

silicone o-rings aerospace

The Challenge: Making Silicone O-Rings Fit the Application

A large aerospace company approached Marco Rubber & Plastics’ engineering team with a composite mold sealing application. The large silicone o-rings they were using to seal the tool were causing difficulty with assembly. When placed into the snaking groove, the o-rings would be slightly too large or small — making the mold impossible to close.

The Solution: Testing via Thermal Expansion Analysis

Our engineering team examined the application and found that the silicone o-rings were expanding when contacting the hot composite mold. Additionally, differences in assembly techniques between the company’s technicians amplified the variability of each individual spliced o-ring.

To combat this, our engineering team utilized a thermal expansion analysis to more accurately recommend a replacement silicone o-ring size. These new parts would also be manufactured to significantly tighter tolerances to produce more consistent results. This was done by molding the parts instead of splice and vulcanizing.

The Result: Proper Design for Proper Performance

After manufacturing and testing the proposed solution, the new silicone o-rings were found to function perfectly within assembly and testing conditions. These parts are now purchased in high quantities. We were proud to put our expertise in identifying the right sealing solutions to work to help this aerospace company achieve its goals.

If your organization is experiencing a challenge with an existing seal product, the Marco Rubber & Plastics engineering team is here to help. For more than 40 years, we’ve been helping companies in industries around the world seal the success of their applications, and we’re ready to help you do the same. Rather than provide you with commodity sealing solutions, we’ll evaluate your unique application to provide the best possible sealing product to achieve your performance requirements now and for the long-term.

Connect with us today to speak with an application engineer.