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engineered metal seals

Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.  Original content can be found on Parker’s CSS Division Website

We’ve previously discussed elastomeric o-rings numerous times in our blog.  From o-ring cracking, to continuous molding technology, and even our own Definitive O-Ring Design Guide… Gallagher pretty much has you covered when it comes to elastomeric o-rings.

But what about when the process or environment is TOO extreme; even for the most advanced elastomeric o-rings?  What do you do then?  You might want to think about using engineered metal seals from Parker.

Read on to learn more about their benefits in their own words.

Engineered Metal Seals

Parker is an industry leader in the design and manufacturer of metal seals and metal sealing systems for extreme applications. Our metal seals are ideal for high-pressure, high temperature, harsh chemicals and vacuum applications.

  •  Temperature > 1800°F
  • Pressure > 100,000 psi
  • Vacuum < 1 x 10-5 torr
  • Harsh chemicals
parker metal seals

The Advanced Products Business Unit is part of the Parker Seal Group’s Composite Sealing Systems Division. The business unit was formed when Parker purchased Advanced Products in 2004.

Parker Metal Seals

Advanced began producing metal seals in 1954, and has developed hundreds of different seal designs for the most demanding applications. Our standard metal seal products include:

Metal Sealing Systems

One of our strengths is our expertise in a diverse range of products and applications. Not only do we design and manufacture typical one-piece metal seals, we also develop multi-piece, multi-function sealing systems.

How Engineered Metal Seals Work

The metal seal is compressed in a cavity about 20% on average of its original free height. The force generated through compression of the ring produces a high contact stress at the seal/ cavity interface. This force is supplemented by the pressure-energization force which rises in proportion to the increase in differential pressure.

Markets Served

We offer a wide range of high-performance alloys, special platings, and unique geometries to perform in the most rigorous sealing applications. Our sealing technology is currently being used on the ocean floor and in outer space exploration. Our metal seal solutions are used extensively in critical applications in the following markets:

  • Aerospace
  • Power generation
  • Energy, oil and gas
  • Space exploration
  • Heavy duty diesel engine
  •  Military
  • Automotive
  • General industrial

Engineering Expertise

Parker’s team of engineers and scientists offer expert application assistance. They are trained sealing experts with decades of combined experience in real world applications, ready to help you find the most reliable, cost-effective solution. Our metal seal engineering expertise provides value-added engineering and analysis to simulate and evaluate metal seal performance, utilizing the latest technology, they have the ability to:

  • Perform 2D and 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA), whether it is non-linear, vibration or thermal.
  • Assess seal stress levels, stress relaxation, fatigue, load, wear, friction, torque, plastic deformation, elastic recovery, resonant frequencies, and leakage.
  • Pressure test from 10-5 torr to 35,000 psi.
  • Temperature test from Cryogenic to 2100°F.
  • Helium mass spectrometer leak detection down to 10-11 mbar. liter/sec

Advantages of Parker Metal Seals

Resilient metal seals meet the challenges of high temperatures or cryogenics, high-pressures, deep vacuum, corrosive chemicals and even intense levels of radiation.

  • Independent optimization of functional components allows each discrete function including load, springback and outer sealing layered ductility/hardness to be optimized to ensure the highest sealing performance
  • Directly bonded electroplating onto the load bearing substrate eliminates unnecessary parts and failure modes.
  • Pressure energization uses internal/external hydrostatic pressures to supplement the self-energization forces from the tubing, jacket, or spring.
  • Total Metal Seal Service includes custom and standard sizes from 0.250" and larger including circular and non-circular shapes. Parker also offers the complete range of MS metal O-ring sizes, all AS1895 E-Rings sizes, and the fastest delivery of C-Rings from our preferred size list

Composite Sealing Solutions and Metal Seals from Parker

Jacket Materials and Platings

The special alloys and metals used as seal base materials maintain optimum performance at extreme temperatures and pressures for long periods of time. Some of the materials include high strength alloys such as:

  • Inconel 625, 718, X-750
  • Hastelloy C-276
  • Waspaloy
  • Rene 41

Other materials include 304, 316, 321, and 347 stainless steels.

For ultra-tight sealing, Parker offers a multitude of unique platings such as silver, copper, gold, indium and Teflon. These specialized platings and coatings allow the modification of the surface properties of the metal seal to create a ductile, low hardness outer surface layer. This acts as an integral “gasket” and ensures optimum sealing despite mating surface imperfections.

For more information about Parker's engineered metal seals, please contact our engineering department.