Which Environments Cannot Use Rubber Sealing Rings

Rubber sealing rings have excellent sealing performance in various environments, but they cannot be used or need to be used with caution in certain specific environments. The following are some environments where rubber seals cannot be used:
Strong acid, strong alkali and other corrosive chemical substances environment:
Rubber materials may decompose or experience performance degradation due to chemical corrosion, leading to seal ring failure. For example, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, etc. may swell, dissolve, or harden in certain strong acid or alkali solutions, thereby losing their sealing effect.
Extreme environments with high or low temperatures:
High temperature may lead to thermal oxidation degradation of rubber molecular chains, resulting in damage to mechanical properties, while low temperature may cause embrittlement or vitrification, which can also lead to seal failure. For example, although silicone rubber has high and low temperature resistance, it may also experience performance degradation when exposed to temperatures beyond its operating temperature range (such as long-term exposure to extremely high or low temperatures).
Oil or solvent environment incompatible with rubber materials:
Some oils or solvents may react chemically with rubber materials, causing the sealing ring to swell, dissolve, or harden. For example, although nitrile rubber has excellent oil resistance, it is not suitable for phosphate ester series hydraulic oils and gear oils containing polar additives; Silicone rubber, on the other hand, is not resistant to oil and is therefore not suitable for use in oily environments.
Environment with particles or impurities present:
Particles or impurities in the working medium may cause wear or scratches on the surface of the sealing ring, thereby reducing the sealing performance. Therefore, in environments with a large amount of particulate matter or impurities, special attention should be paid to the selection and protection of sealing rings.
Special electrochemical environment:
Sealing applications in conductive liquids may trigger electrochemical reactions, accelerating rubber aging or damage. For example, in environments with severe electrochemical corrosion, it is necessary to use sealing ring materials with resistance to electrochemical corrosion.
When selecting and using rubber sealing rings, it is necessary to fully consider their material characteristics, working environment, and sealing requirements. In specific environments, such as strong acids and bases, extreme high and low temperatures, incompatible oil solvents, particulate impurities, and special electrochemical environments, it is necessary to carefully select or avoid the use of rubber seals. At the same time, attention should be paid to the installation and maintenance of the sealing ring to ensure its long-term stable operation.