How should silicone seals be maintained? What factors affect their performance?

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2022-08-11 10:50

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How should silicone seals be maintained? What factors affect their performance?

During prolonged adhesive application and metal pressing, silicone seals are subjected to repeated stress, which can cause them to lose their ability to rebound and remain deformed under load. As a manufacturer, Ruibo will explain, from three perspectives, how to properly maintain and use silicone seals over the long term.

During the prolonged processes of adhesion and metal pressing, Silicone sealant Frequent stress can cause silicone seals to lose their resilience and fail to rebound when unloaded. As a manufacturer, Ruibo will explain, from three perspectives, how to properly maintain and use silicone seals over the long term.

　　Some sealing rings are subjected to harsh operating conditions over long periods, such as aging under the combined effects of oxygen, heat, and light, which can lead to material degradation. Therefore, at the outset, it is essential to consider the service environment and duration of silicone seals, as well as whether the material and product design can ensure a long service life without compromising elasticity. Typically, these factors should be evaluated from three key perspectives.

　　I. Ambient temperature around the silicone sealing element:

　　During operation, temperature fluctuations—both high and low—are a major factor affecting product performance. Although silicone can withstand temperatures ranging from over 200°C to as low as –40°C, prolonged exposure to extreme heat accelerates the aging of silicone seals. The higher the temperature, the greater the degree of deformation; for silicone, large‑stress deformation typically exceeds 40%, leading to a complete loss of functional performance and potentially causing seal leakage. When operating at low temperatures, it is advisable to appropriately increase the compression ratio and elongation. Additionally, care should be taken to prevent product failure, deformation, and cracking under cold‑temperature conditions.

　　II. Elongation of Silicone Seals:

　　Tensile strength is one of the key performance characteristics of silicone seals; therefore, silicone manufacturers select materials with appropriate tensile strengths and a range of hardness levels during production. For applications involving prolonged, repeated use, it is advisable to employ high‑strength silicone compounds to ensure that product performance remains stable over time. When silicone rubber is subjected to tensile stresses exceeding its rated range for extended periods, the material can become slack and lose its tensile integrity. Consequently, under adequate operating conditions, minimizing working tensile strain is a major factor influencing deformation in silicone materials during long‑term service; thus, reducing operational stress is an effective approach to maintaining the seal’s integrity.

　　III. Selection of Raw Materials for Silicone Seals:

　　During prolonged adhesion and metal compression, silicone sealing components are frequently subjected to stress, which can cause them to lose their ability to rebound when the load is removed. Additionally, some seals exposed over extended periods to harsh conditions such as oxygen, heat, and light may undergo aging, leading to irreversible changes in their properties. Therefore, at the design stage, it is essential to consider the operating environment and service life of silicone seals, ensuring that the material and product maintain long‑term durability without compromising their elasticity.

　　1. During operation, temperature fluctuations—both high and low—are a major factor affecting product performance. Although silicone can withstand temperatures ranging from over 200°C to -40°C, prolonged exposure to extreme heat accelerates the aging of silicone seals. The higher the temperature, the greater the degree of deformation; for silicone, large‑strain deformation typically exceeds 40%, which can lead to a complete loss of functional performance and result in sealing failures or leaks.

　　When used at low temperatures, it is recommended to appropriately increase the compression and elongation. During low-temperature service, care should be taken to prevent product failure, deformation, and cracking.

　　2. Tensile strength is one of the key performance characteristics of silicone seals; therefore, silicone manufacturers select materials with appropriate tensile strengths and a range of hardness levels during production. For applications involving prolonged, repeated use, they can opt for high‑strength silicone compounds to ensure that product performance remains stable over time. Since silicone rubber tends to relax under long‑term service conditions and may lose its tensile strength when subjected to loads beyond its rated range, it is essential to operate within well‑defined limits to minimize stress‑induced deformation. Prolonged use significantly affects the material’s dimensional stability.

　　Therefore, reducing workplace stress is an effective way to prolong the service life of sealing rings. In addition, using high-quality materials in product design ensures superior performance; the higher the tensile strength and hardness, the better the product quality.

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