ABSTRACT
Designers should utilize a systematic method for solving sealing problems. The best method is one the designer has developed personally, has gained confidence in by repeated use, and is versatile enough to be applied to a large variety of seal problems. This chapter presents a general design method that can be modified by designers to meet individual needs. It is divided into three sections, proceeding from general considerations to the more specific. First, the chapter presents the general aspects of a useful design method involving gland application, O-ring size, gland dimensions, diametral clearance, and O-ring material. Second, it discusses parameters as temperature variations, differential pressure, swell and shrinkage, and so on, and ending with a quick reference table that summarizes the most important design criteria. Third, the chapter presents helpful performance charts for the elastomeric materials used for O-ring seals. These charts arrange the elastomeric materials in order of best resistance to temperature, environmental, and physical criteria.
