Causes and solutions of O-ring failure
1. Ozone crack analysis
Condition:
When the O-ring is exposed to ozone or stretched, it will cause small cracks on the surface.
Causes:
1. Insufficient surface lubrication
2. The O-ring is squeezed due to pressure, or the metal part is too large, causing the O-ring to be over-stretched.
3. Not considering the use environment, and using general materials available on the market (such as NBR).
Solutions:
1. Apply lubricant to the surface during installation.
2. Change the size of the O-ring or change the groove size.
3. Inform the manufacturer of the use environment when purchasing and choose ozone-resistant rubber materials (such as EPDM, Silicone, etc.).
2. Damage Analysis
Condition:
The surface of the O-ring is scratched or abnormally worn.
Causes:
1. The groove design of the O-ring is poor.
2. The hole in the workpiece is rough and uneven.
3. The O-ring is corroded by granular dust or foreign matter during the operation.
4. The operation speed is too fast.
5. The working pressure is too high.
Solutions:
1. Re-check the original user manual and install the appropriate size.
2. Improve the processing precision.
3. Add dust-proof facilities outside the machine.
4. Apply lubricating oil to the surface during installation.
5. Choose an O-ring made of high-pressure resistant material.
3. Chemical Attack Analysis
Condition:
The O-ring comes into contact with chemicals, and the surface shows swelling, shrinking, and discoloration.
Cause:
The rubber material cannot withstand certain chemical raw materials.
Solution:
Choose a chemical-resistant O-ring material (such as VITON).
4. Gas leakage Analysis
Condition:
The o-ring cannot completely seal the seal.
Causes:
1. The o-ring used is the wrong size.
2. The o-ring is in a high-pressure or high-temperature environment for a long time.
3. Use an o-ring of poor quality or low hardness.
Solutions:
1. Check the correct temperature and pressure from the original machine instructions and choose the appropriate material.
2. The quality of the o-ring should be carefully selected.
3. When installing the o-ring, ensure it is tightly in the machine's groove.
5. Over Squeeze Analysis
Condition:
The O-ring is over-extended and presents the same flat shape as the groove.
Causes:
1. The O-ring is in a high-pressure or high-temperature environment.
2. The O-ring is over-extended due to excessive compression.
Solutions:
1. When selecting the material of the O-ring, use a material with higher heat resistance. (such as VITON, Silicone, etc.).
2. The groove design of the O-ring should be checked to ensure that too much extrusion is not applied.
6. Thermal Erosion And Adhesion Analysis
Condition:
The surface of the O-ring is cracked due to high temperature and may stick to the workpiece.
Causes:
1. The o-ring has been in an overheated environment for a long time.
2. The surface of the o-ring is too smooth.
Solutions:
1. Choose an o-ring that is less sticky.
2. Choose an o-ring with a matte surface.
conclusion
By understanding the causes and solutions of O-ring failures, the probability of O-ring failures can be effectively reduced and the reliability and safety of equipment can be improved.
