Rubber seals perform an important function by sealing a variety of products and machines. Their flexibility, elasticity, low friction, non-stick properties, and chemical resistance make them suitable for various applications. As a result, rubber seals play a key role in the performance of many machines.
For example, they help prevent leaks from air conditioners; transfer oil while gears turn faster in vehicles without damaging the grease or oil; keep water out when pumps are submerged underwater; serve as a backing material for plastic molded parts, and provide clean movement of car windows.
The Importance of Rubber Seals
These rubber components work well because they have high tear strength and good resilience and shock absorption properties. In addition, they can be stretched over 100 percent without breaking, which is more than enough to help them keep their form under normal conditions.
Despite these benefits, rubber seals aren’t used in many products because they tend to break down over time and require more cleaning than other materials.
Three products that need rubber seals to work properly include the following: Air conditioner, vehicles, and pumps.
1- Air Conditioners
Air conditioners need rubber seals to prevent leaks from the machine’s body and keep the coolant inside. The shafts of these products contain a rotating part that becomes exposed to damaging heat when running at high speeds. They may also be placed in highly humid areas, causing condensation, which would lead to corrosion if not prevented by rubber gaskets or sealants.
Rubber seals prevent leaks by creating a tight connection between components while preventing humidity or any foreign particles from entering into the machine’s interior through small spaces such as joints, cracks, or holes on its surface. Without this protection, corrosion in air conditioners could cause overheating, motor burnout, short circuit to the electrical system, and loss of power at high speed.
Rubber seals also prevent coolant leaks that could otherwise cause damage to the machine’s motor or other components. A product without rubber seals may not function for very long due to damages caused by leaking coolant.
2- Automobiles
Rubber seals are used on all moving parts in cars, including doors, trunk lids, hoods, trunks, and windows, as well as on pumps that transport flammable gas or liquids within the vehicle toward its engine.
Without these components, vibration levels would become too high, causing excessive wear and tear while negatively impacting a car’s performance without offering any benefits to its driver. This would greatly reduce the life of an automobile reducing its resale value when it reaches the used car market.
Rubber seals are also used in pumps that transport fuel to the engine of an automobile, especially if it is equipped with a turbocharger, as they allow for increased airflow without increasing noise levels.
Many of these rubber components, such as O-rings and silicone hoses, have operating temperatures up to about 300 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to prevent wear by replacing the grease normally found on metal surfaces with gas or liquids. This way, rubber seals can keep working while preventing leaks even when exposed to fuels underwater.
3- Hoses
For systems like air conditioners, automobiles, and pumps to run smoothly, there must be no gas or liquid leaks anywhere inside machines’ bodies. Rubber seals form tight connections between components and offer a protective barrier between rubber or metal surfaces to avoid leaks.
Without this protection, pumps for flammable liquid would not transport fuel from the tank to the engine, while cars would need frequent refills and repairs due to damages caused by leaky gas lines. In addition, pumps that do not use any sort of rubber seals may eventually become unable to function and require high pressure to operate at all due to lack of lubrication.