An inflatable seal is a type of rubber
seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...
that inflates and deflates based on the presence of an inflation source. This allows the seal to accommodate a variable sealing gap. When pressure is applied internally to the seal, it inflates to conform to uneven surfaces and provides a reliable barrier from moisture, damp and other contaminants.
How It Works
An inflatable seal can be moulded into a concave, flat or convoluted configuration. Once an inflatable medium is placed between the seal and the force, the seal expands and rounds out to create a firm barrier between a mounting and striking surface.
The inflatable seal is uniquely designed to return to its original state once the source of inflation has been removed. This lets the technician move both the seal and the other object freely.
Applications
Inflatable seals can be utilized in an array of industries like electrical, environmental and the military to assist in the following applications to:
# Squeeze to assist in the movement of materials
# Produce a mechanical holding force
# Stop equipment without damaging it
# Push objects with any degree of force
# Grip, hold, and lift objects while having the ability to retract the seal out of the way when deflated.
# Seal off one environment
Different seal profiles will be used depending on the application. Common profiles include Castellated Profiles, Frog-leg Profiles, Footed Snap Profiles, Stem/Foot Profiles and Channel-fit Profiles.
The choice of profile depends on the speed with which the seal must be sealed and unsealed, the pressure it is expected to withstand, and the distance and shape of the sealing gap.
Materials Used
Many elastomers are combined to create an inflatable seal. Some of the more commonly used materials are:
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EPDM
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Silicone
A silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer made up of siloxane (−R2Si−O−SiR2−, where R = organic group). They are typically colorless oils or rubber-like substances. Silicones are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking ...
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Viton
The following fabrics can be used to reinforce the seal:
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Dacron
Polyethylene terephthalate (or poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P), is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods ...
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Kevlar
Kevlar (para-aramid) is a strong, heat-resistant synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965, the high-strength material was first used commercially in the early 1970s a ...
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Nomex
Nomex is a flame-resistant meta-aramid material developed in the early 1960s by DuPont and first marketed in 1967.
Properties
Nomex and related aramid polymers are related to nylon, but have aromatic backbones, and hence are more rigid and mo ...
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Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic.
Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from petro ...
References
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Inflatable Seals
Seals (mechanical)