Out of dozens of types of sealing materials, it is hard to choose the one that perfectly fits our expectations. It is worth paying attention to silicone O-rings. They are an excellent alternative to many other rubber seals. Their round cross-section makes them applicable in various industries. VMQ O-rings are valued for their versatility, making them an essential component of any toolbox. They are available in various sizes, allowing for customization to specific applications. But before we go into what distinguishes silicone O-rings from others and why it is such a good investment - let's start with what silicone O-rings are and what they are used for.

What are silicone O-rings and what sets them apart?

Silicone O-rings have a circular cross-section and are mainly used for static sealing. They are suitable for working at high temperatures. Compared to other circular cross-section sealing rings, they stand out for their wide range of resistance since they have a broad range of operating temperatures, from -60° C to +200° C. Thanks to their thermal resistance, you can be sure that using them for insulation will not lead to freezing or melting due to natural causes. Furthermore, due to their structure, VMQ O-rings are resistant to hot air, ozone, and UV radiation, retaining their elasticity.

As we know, O-rings are made of various elastomeric materials. Other O-rings have temperature resistance ranging from -20° C to +190° C, meaning that too low or too high temperatures can significantly affect their sealing effectiveness and structural elasticity. O-rings are one of the most commonly chosen technical seals. Although they all have the same task - to provide reliable and effective sealing against leaks, silicone O-rings, due to their good resistance to high temperatures, are a popular choice in applications where the installation is exposed to hot air, ozone, or salt solutions.

It is also worth noting that silicone O-rings do not affect taste or odor changes, making them suitable for use in the medical, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Silicone VMQ O-rings - properties and features

VMQ O-rings stand out with a unique set of features and a wide range of applications. One of these features is very good electrical insulation, which they owe to their structure and the chemical compounds present in silicone.

Compared to other O-rings, they stand out for their physiological neutrality and material cleanliness, making them suitable for many industries, including the medical and food processing sectors. Their advantage also lies in their good resistance to high temperatures and degradation caused by the action of ozone and resistance to hot air, making them practically usable for any static installation.

Silicone O-rings also have certain limitations. They do not have high durability, and prolonged wear can significantly deteriorate their state, so they should not be used in dynamic sealing applications. They should not be used in high gas concentration environments as their resistance will gradually decrease, leading to leakage from the system. Circular cross-section silicone seals should also not be used in the presence of water vapor, as their resistance in such conditions will not be as high as in other cases.

Types of O-rings

On the market, there are several different types of O-rings, depending on their specifications and applications. Among them, we can distinguish NBR O-rings, which perform well with industrial acids, oils, and alkaline solutions but do not have good ozone resistance. They also have much lower temperature resistance than silicone O-rings since their temperature resistance range is between -30° C and +90° C.

Another type is EPDM O-rings, which, unlike silicone O-rings, show high resistance to water vapor, inorganic acids, and short-chain acids, as well as ozone, and are resistant to aging - time does not affect their elasticity.

FKM O-rings, commonly known as "oil-resistant," are used for all types of lubricants, oils, hydraulic fluids, and ozone. Their high-temperature resistance is similar to that of silicone O-rings, as it reaches up to +210° C.

As you can see, silicone O-rings are the most versatile because their elasticity, good resistance to hot air, and high-temperature resistance set them apart from other O-rings. While EPDM and FKM O-rings are also ozone-resistant, silicone O-rings additionally cope well with the effects of oxygen and UV radiation. Used in industry for static sealing where high temperatures pose a threat, and at the same time, there are no acids or gases present. O-rings are used to prevent leaks and contamination from entering the system.

Technical Seals in Devices

It is known that most mechanical devices contain elements that require additional sealing. Regardless of the reason for this, it is necessary to equip yourself with suitable silicone O-rings. Of course, silicone seals do not seem to be the only necessary solution, but it is certain that they will be the best.

Proper sealing is an essential element of any device - only suitable seals guarantee that the equipment will function smoothly. Silicone O-rings are small elements, but their characteristics make them indispensable for good working conditions and work safety.

Rubber O-rings seal perfectly. Their high elasticity allows for adaptation to almost any device. Additionally, their high durability and good mechanical properties ensure safe machine use. The principle of O-ring operation is invaluable, and this type of purchase should not be skimped on. This is because damaging the cheapest types of gaskets will lead to further machine damage. Therefore, it is worth investing in this seemingly small purchase.

How Does an O-ring Work?

We are familiar with technical issues related to various types of O-rings. Silicone O-rings, which are torus-shaped gaskets, come in various dimensions. The internal diameter ranges from 35 hundredths of a millimeter to 12 millimeters. This seal is a self-acting and at the same time, two-way sealing element. The initial tension it causes acts radially or axially, thus ensuring complete tightness in the absence of pressure. As a result of the pressure interaction, various forces from the initial tension and pressure overlap - this enables the creation of a total sealing force, which increases with increasing pressure. This high pressure makes silicone O-rings seem to have properties similar to those of a liquid with an extremely high surface tension. This tension enables uniform pressure distribution in all directions. Without this specific property of silicone O-rings, the sealing material would quickly yield to the machine's pressure and lead to the system's failure. Consequently, the device would be easily damaged.

Special silicone O-rings are excellent sealing solutions in places where static applications are associated with very high temperatures. Their extraordinary elasticity is not the only feature that makes them highly valued by users.

Furthermore, it is worth noting their fatigue resistance - a feature that ensures the longevity of the entire machine - after all, the quicker the material fatigues, the sooner a situation threatening the machine's good and safe operation will occur. High resistance also characterizes these silicone protections. They are primarily resistant to hot air, but not only. Operating ozone and UV radiation are a concern for most machinery protections worldwide.

This is why silicone O-rings are increasingly being chosen, proving their resistance long ago and continuing to do so. However, resistance to high temperatures alone is not everything. The art lies in the fact that silicone materials can withstand extreme temperature changes.

The characteristics mentioned here are just part of what makes silicone O-rings made of VMQ so highly valued worldwide. VMQ type O-rings expand the limitations of regular silicone versions. In the VMQ edition, they serve as exceptionally hygienic seals and have also found applications in the medical and food industries. It is valuable that they do not alter the smell and taste in the environments where they are so often used.

Due to their unique properties, silicone O-rings are frequently used in a wide range of applications in various industries, including the automotive, aerospace, space, medical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Silicone O-rings can also be found in cooling systems, pressure washers, water treatment devices, semiconductor systems, and food processing.

What Do the Colors of Rubber O-rings Mean?

Colorful silicone O-rings, among others, are the result of the latest technological advancements and very clever use of newly acquired knowledge. Thanks to these technologies, it is possible to produce O-rings in any color, although global standards have created certain defined divisions. So what are the colors of O-rings? Here they are, along with their applications:

• Black O-rings - they have a natural color that was originally known to all manufacturers of these seals. In this color, you can find, among others, seals made from the cheapest (and therefore most popular) material, NBR. Rubber rings, which are a mixture of FKM/FPM/Viton, are also available in the well-known black color. Where else is this color used? In cooling systems where Neoprene seals resistant to oil, UV rays, ozone, etc., are used. The same applies to some of the best O-rings. VMQ type silicone O-rings also have a black color. EPDM, a mixture of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, is also the basis for black-colored O-rings. They are recommended for use when there is a risk of exposure to sunlight.
• Red O-rings - in this color, you can mainly find silicone O-rings distinguished by their bright red color.
• Brick-red O-rings - in this variant, VMQ silicone O-rings are created in a characteristic O cross-section. These O-rings, whose typically brick-red color is so unusual, may have FDA certification. What does this mean? Simply put, they can be used in the food industry, with machines having direct contact with food production and processing.
• Green O-rings - this color of hope is found mainly in EPDM material, which is recommended for contact with water. Other materials that can be used to create green O-rings are FKM and Viton. Green rings are also made from HNBR - they provide high resistance to oils and wear, making them suitable where machine disassembly is frequent.
• White O-rings - this innocent color is synonymous with PTFE type, an extremely hard product made of Teflon. They can be produced in other colors - just like VMQ and MVQ rings, which does not change their properties.
• Silver seals - this type of seal is most commonly made from a fluorine mixture. Yes, they are the aforementioned FKM, FPM, or Viton.
• Blue O-rings - silicone seals are mainly produced in this color. Alternatively, an FKM mixture can be used, which will be better than basic NBR O-rings. The latter are characterized by lower chemical resistance and a narrower temperature range.
• Brown seals - this distinctive color can be found in NBR, a synthetic rubber, and in OP rings made of Viton.
• Graphite O-rings - characterized by a circular cross-section and typically made of FFKM. They are mainly intended for the aerospace industry. In the case of brown O-rings made of FPM, it is recommended to use them when in contact with mineral oils.
• Orange O-rings - they are made from silicone, such as VMQ or MVQ.
• Clear seals - these transparent seals are made of silicone. This material is so unique that seals can be made partially impermeable to the naked eye.
• Yellow O-rings - they are usually made of silicone, although PTFE material can also be the basis for these seals. EPDM, i.e., seals used in steam engines and compressors where contact with ozone occurs, also takes on this color.
• Purple O-rings - they are produced from EPDM and MVQ materials. Where will they find their application? Primarily where liquids are applied. The odorless characteristic of the silicone variant makes the food line particularly satisfied with these O-rings.
• Milky O-rings - the milky color of O-rings is quite common but has two distinct uses. First, it is used where there is contact with food items. In this case, the milky color is taken on by a silicone mixture such as VMQ or MVQ. This variant is also used to seal places with very high temperatures, up to 260 degrees Celsius. Varieties accepting even higher temperatures can withstand up to 300 degrees Celsius. Second, the milky color is used in technologically advanced places - where a mixture of FFKM will be used.
• Flesh-colored O-rings - this color indicates mixtures for special tasks, including FFKM. It is dedicated to use in the pharmaceutical industry since these O-rings are highly resistant to aggressive chemicals - this also translates into an extremely high price.
• Gray O-rings - in Poland, the gray color is assigned to OP rings, and most often appears in FKM and FPM mixtures, so it is used in contact with mineral and synthetic oils. These seal colors are also present in acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber mixtures, NBR.

Each O-ring color has its meaning. Among the mentioned colors, many relate to silicone O-rings, clearly showing that this material has a multitude of applications, as seen in brick-red and milky O-rings.

Where Can I Buy Silicone O-rings?

If you want to equip yourself with high-quality silicone O-rings, you should choose a store where various sizes, reasonable prices, sufficient quantities, and quick delivery are available. Most stores conduct online sales, where order shipment poses absolutely no problem. However, if you prefer not to use the store's online service and want to start work on the same day - instead of adding them to the virtual shopping cart, check where you can buy silicone O-rings in person.

A store in Warsaw will be ideal for customers living in the capital, and those who cannot visit it directly - will certainly be delighted with its rich assortment and wide online offer.

Our Power Rubber store has been supplying silicone O-rings to Pruszkow, Ochota, and other districts in Warsaw for years. Therefore, if you are looking for seals applicable to a wide temperature range, do not hesitate and familiarize yourself with our offer today!

If you are looking for high-quality silicone O-rings, feel free to contact us.