O-rings are seals with a round cross section made of rubber, silicone, metal and plastic materials. Depending on the material, O-rings can meet a number of industry standards and regulatory approvals.

Overview: Standards and approvals complied by Betech's materials and production facilities

O-rings can be used to form static or dynamic seals and are used for many purposes in all sectors of industry. O-rings are, for example, used to seal lids, flanges, covers, valves and fixtures. O-rings are also widely used for sealing purposes in hydraulic equipment.

When O-rings are subjected to loading and pressure, they change form, completely filling the O-ring groove and gap. A complete seal is thus formed, ensuring that fluids, gases or contaminated particles cannot pass.

O-rings are generally moulded but can also be made from extruded rubber cord. Thanks to their simple shape, O-rings can be manufactured relatively cheaply and are easy to mount.

The type of rubber used is determined by the pressure, temperature and medium the O-ring will be subjected to.

Static applications

Examples of O-rings in static applications: axial, radial and in dovetail groove.

Dynamic applications
Examples of O-rings in dynamic applications with reciprocating motion: Groove on the cylinder or groove on the piston.

Max. speed: 0.5 m/s

Examples of O-rings in dynamic applications which rotate or turn:

Recommended max. speed: 2.0 m/s

In general, it is not recommended to use O-rings in dynamic applications!

Contact us for technical clarification

Classification

At Betech, we work on the basis of three different classifications:

Low performance
O-rings that have no certifications or special requirements, such as seals for flashlights and watches.

Medium performance
O-rings with certifications. These might for example be for use in the food industry, or water and sanitation. The customer for medium performance O-rings might be, for example, a coffee machine manufacturer requiring foodstuffs and water certifications. This class typically includes customers in industries such as the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry, automation, marine, power/heating and HVAC.

This class also includes customers who are very demanding about tolerances.

High performance
O-rings used in industries such as oil/gas, refineries, marine and power/heating. The class includes customers who work in the extreme areas of the temperature spectrum for rubber, plastic or metal, i.e. temperatures from -250 ˚C to +260 ˚C (-420F to +500F).