The use and misuse of O-Rings: Elastomer O-ring seals are commonly used to provide demountable vacuum seals. The proper choice of material, installation, and handling are key to a successful vacuum design

摘要

The sealing integrity of vacuum systems is, undeniably, a crucial aspect of vacuum technology, and demountable seals are an important segment. A demountable seal can be considered to be any seal that is capable of being opened or closed as opposed to permanent seals such as welded or brazed joints, which includes important components such as flanges and valves. Any discussion and consideration of these components leads us directly and inexorably to the subject of gaskets and gasket materials, which can be readily broken down into two main groups: metal and elastomer. Metal seals are inherently cleaner and more reliable, but their use has the overall disadvantage of being more expensive and more time and labor intensive than elastomer gaskets. Consequently, elastomer seals are used whenever possible in most applications, and they are usually applied in the form of O-rings.