O-ring
Sign in to savethumb|right|250px|Typical O-ring and application An O-ring, also known as a packing or a toric joint, is a mechanical gasket in the shape of a torus; it is a loop of elastomer with a round cross-section, designed to be seated in a groove and compressed during assembly between two or more parts, forming a seal at the interface.
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Manufacturing
- History
- Theory and design
- Typical applications
- Vacuum applications
- High temperature applications
- Sizes
- Material
- Other seals
- Failure modes
- Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster
- Standards
- ISO 3601 Fluid power systems — O-rings
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|right|250px|Typical O-ring and application An O-ring, also known as a packing or a toric joint, is a mechanical gasket in the shape of a torus; it is a loop of elastomer with a round cross-section, designed to be seated in a groove and compressed during assembly between two or more parts, forming a seal at the interface.
The O-ring may be used in static applications or in dynamic applications where there is relative motion between the parts and the O-ring. Dynamic examples include rotating pump shafts and hydraulic cylinder pistons. Static applications of O-rings may include fluid or gas sealing applications in which: (1) the O-ring is compressed resulting in zero clearance, (2) the O-ring material is vulcanized solid such that it is impermeable to the fluid or gas, and (3) the O-ring material is resistant to degradation by the fluid or gas. The wide range of potential liquids and gases that need to be sealed has necessitated the development of a wide range of O-ring materials.