Often, we aren’t aware of problems with O-rings and seals in applications until leaks and other issues begin to occur.
However, O-ring cracking can begin much sooner than this, and being aware of the causes of O-ring cracking can help to prevent it from occurring and protect your application requirements.
At SSP, we support all industries with a range of high-quality O-rings, seals, and gaskets. We work with leading brands and manufacturers to supply both standard and custom-built o rings in order to suit a range of applications.
To find out more, make sure to check out our seal and gasket pages online or speak to a member of our team today.
O ring suppliers Leeds
O-rings are among the most commonly used sealing components across applications in many industry sectors due to their high quality, reliability, and extended lifespan.
Undoubtedly, there is a vast selection of seals available in a range of tough materials to help ensure compatibility with application and environment, but also to maximise the sealing life and reliability of the o-ring.
We use o rings primarily to provide a robust seal between two mating surfaces to prevent leaks from occurring.
O-ring uses
O-rings are used in a range of applications, from everyday household use to aerospace applications and beyond.
Some of the industries that make use of O-rings include:
- Aerospace
- Pharmaceutical
- Automotive
- Chemical and petrochemical
- Energy
- Oil and Gas
- Food and beverages
- And more.
Causes of O-ring cracking
The main reason for O-ring cracking is the element ozone, which allows oxygen to reach the rubber molecules and cause cracks in the elastomer.
Ozone cracking occurs mainly in nitrile rubber o-rings as the polymer chain becomes cut, forming tiny cracks in the o-ring. As these cuts increase and grow, the larger the cracks become, leading to o-ring failure, ultimately putting your application and potential contents at risk from leaks.
How O-ring cracking happens
Ozonolysis is the leading cause of O-ring cracking. Mainly found in nitrile rubber O-rings, which also includes the materials Buna and the varieties within the Buna-N range.
Cracking occurs when the nitrile molecules in the O-ring have inherent weak points in their structure. These weak spots make them susceptible to oxygen atoms, which cause a break in the molecular chain, weakening the material and hence leading to ultimate cracks in the
O-ring.
The oxygen particles, in essence, begin to pair up to form dioxygen, which becomes a problem when they form in threes, as it is at this stage that ozone is created and cracks begin to appear due to wear on the o-ring.
These cracks start small and, without preventive treatment and, in some cases, replacement, will get larger.
Effects of o ring cracking
O-ring cracking can be severely detrimental to businesses as applications are adversely affected due to leaks.
When cracks begin to appear and leaks happen, applications may experience downtime and production delays, as well as potential contamination of products.
All of this results in a costly expense to you.
This is why it is essential that you understand what is causing the cracks within the O-ring and how to prevent them from happening again and again.
How to prevent O-ring cracking
O-ring cracking can be prevented through the appropriate storage of O-rings.
When we break down the elements that contribute to ozone, we can look at ways to securely store o rings to prevent damage and wear, for example:
O rings should be stored away from ultraviolet lights and should be placed out of the way of direct sunlight.
They should not be placed near electric motors, electrical arcing, or electromagnetic fields.
They should not be stored in a stretched state. However, please note that if you do need to store your o rings in a stretched state, we recommend using an airtight bag to provide additional protection.
When it comes to installation, we would recommend to avoid cracking, installing the o ring into the mating part within 24 hours of installing the o ring onto the fitting.
O rings should also be installed wet and ideally with a grease lubricant to help protect further from ozone damage.
Alternatively, you can opt for o rings that have ozone-resistant materials incorporated into their design, materials such as HNBR, EPDM, or fluorocarbon.
Note: EPDM is a popular choice as this material is resistant to UV, ozone, steam, and oxygenated solvents.
O ring suppliers UK
Unfortunately, o ring cracking does occur, and the best solution is to put in place preventative measures from the start.
From storage to installation, you must protect your o ring in order to ensure optimal sealing performance and a long lifespan of your sealing solution.
To find out more, to better understand which o ring type is best suited to your application, and to have your questions answered, speak to a member of our friendly team today – we’d be happy to help.
Contact us.
