parker o ring

Types of Parker O Rings

Parker o rings have different types according to the needed application.

• Standard Parker O Rings

  Parker O-ring seals are round seal elements manufactured of rubber and other elastomer materials. They can be designed in different diameters and profiles to create a sealing line. When installed, the round O-ring sits in a sealing groove. Parker's standard O rings are manufactured to precise Parker o ring dimensions. These dimensions include inner diameter, overall cross-section thickness, and groove width. The typical materials for Parker's standard O rings are nitrile, fluorocarbon, and silicone rubbers.

• Backup Rings and Wipers

  A packet of one or two O rings can be supported or assisted by a backup ring. Backup rings sit behind the O-ring in a sealing groove to increase pressure on the O ring. They can also take most of the contact wear, leaving the O ring further down the pack to do the sealing. Parker also produces O-ring wipers for sealing applications. Wipers use lips molded on them to scrape dirt or contaminants off a rod or piston before the sealing O ring makes contact. This scraping action cleans the working surface to guard against dirt interfering with lubrication or making seals wear prematurely.

• Specialty Parker O Rings

  Parker manufacturers several types of O rings. These ring types are made from special compounds or designed for unique sealing challenges. For example, a Parker O ring temperature range map indicates that Parker Viton O rings are often used for chemical processing. These O rings are also used for high-temperature applications. Parker O rings with low compression set properties are recommended for long-term sealing. Parker has grooves and sealing shapes that can enhance these rings sealing functions. Parker also produces conductive O rings for situations where charges could build up on fluids, such as in semiconductor production.

Features of Parker O Rings

Parkers O rings have features that ensure they work well in most environments.

• Temperature Resistant

  The Parker O ring temperature tolerance is broad and deep due to the materials used. High-performance viton O rings can handle sealing temps up to 600F, while specially formulated low-temp O rings work down to -320F. This temperature range is suitable for most sealing uses exposed to heat, cold, or both. Parker's patented O ring formulas also resist a sudden loss of sealing usable after a prolonged heat exposure. Parker's expands temperature tolerances through innovative sealing shapes and grooves designed with computer modeling. These shapes help Wipers and O rings maintain sealing contact even when subjected to extreme temperature cycles that could distort the shape.

• Chemical Resistant

  Parker’s Parker O rings chemical resistance is enhanced by the elastomers used and computer aided seal design. Parker O rings keep their shapes intact and maintain sealing through contact with corrosive fluids, gases, and chemicals. This performance is due to viton O rings formulated with Parker's advanced elastomers. Other materials used for ordinary O rings include silicone rubber. Parker has designed grooves and sealing shapes that increase the chemical resistance of Parker o rings through computer aided design. Parker’s chemical resistant O rings and seals are designed for petroleum, chemical, food processing, and other industries where less chemically stable rubbers tend to fail.

• Durability

  O rings manufactured by Parker last longer where less durable rings will have to be replaced. Parker's proprietary elastomer materials and Parker o ring dimensions ensure high durability and safety sealing performance. Parker O rings resist notching, wear, tearing, extrusion, and other failure modes that cause rings to stop sealing. Parker O rings are designed to last under normal use; extended life Parkero rings are available for extremely service conditions. Special long life O ring materials include anti aging preservatives. Special shapes and Parker O ring grooves increase durability for extended life seals and Wipers.

• Custom Capabilities

  Parker makes special O rings and sealing shapes to customer specifications quickly and at low cost. Parker's advanced O ring machines and computer aided design allow Parker to make customized sealing solutions in short production runs to fit unique sealing grooves or specialized requirements. Parker offers special O ring materials and coatings and grooves for unusual sealing requirements. Parker's prompt service and readily available special O ring quantities make Parker the best source for hard to find sealing solutions.

How to Choose Parker O Rings

The following factors should be considered when choosing Parker o rings.

• Material

  Parkers O ring materials are carefully chosen for the sealing performance they provide. Each formulation has characteristics that resist heat, chemicals, and other exposure that deteriorate less capable elastomers experienced during sealing. Things that cause O ring materials to degrade include temperature, chemicals, and ozone. For example, temperature sensitive O rings like made from silicone have a lower temperature range than other materials around 600 F. Ozone, found in high altitudes and industrial areas, cause cracks in rubber. Parker uses ozone retardant materials to prevent this.

• Assembly

  This is the manner the O rings are put together. Parker emphasizes that good assembly practices are a sealing performance enhancing factor. Poor assembly puts deformation in O rings that leads to leaks. Installation tips include not twisting O rings during assembly, which is a seal destroying deformation. Also, hard and sharp materials should not be used during assembly as they mark and damage O rings, again causing leaks. Assembly involving twisting and deformation results in internal and external ring kinks that are sealing performance compromise.

• Temperature

  This is how hot or cold operating environments will be before the O ring will be expected to perform. Parker claims that there is no such thing as the regular O ring for temperatures that are more than 250 degrees F. for such cases, Parker advises that O rings should be made from fluorocarbon, silicone, and perfluoroelastomer sealing materials, which are able to withstand over 500 degrees F.

• Service conditions

  This is the kind of sealing environment the Parker O Rings will be performing. Parker wants to know about the pressure, kind of fluid to be sealed, and whether the environment is ozone-rich or has aggressive chemicals.

• Surface finish

  Parker claims the surface on which O rings sit influences the groove in which they sit. A smoother surface promotes better contact area between the O ring and the surface enhancing sealing performance.

Q & A

Are Parker O rings better?

The Parker O Rings are more durable, highly resistant to chemicals, temperature, and ozone. In addition, they exhibit better sealing performance.

How long do Parker O rings last?

O rings from Parker are designed to last long enough under normal operating conditions. They are specially formulated with longevity enhancing preservatives and high durability materials.

Where can Parker O rings be used?

Parker O rings can be used for sealing purposes in almost any industry. They are highly resistant to temperature, chemicals, and ozone, making them suitable for various environments.

Do Parker O rings expand?

Yes, Parker O rings expand due to temperature and pressure variations in the sealing environment. This phenomenon enhances sealing performance by increasing contact area.

What is an O ring made of?

Parker O rings are made of a variety of elastomers. These include fluorocarbon, silicone, nitrile, and polyurethane, each suited for specific operating conditions.