parker o-rings
- April 28, 2026
Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Blog.Sealing decisions are often left until the end of product development. By the time an email is sent to Gallagher Fluid Seals, the gland may already be fixed. This may
- December 11, 2025
Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Blog.O-Ring Selection Made Easy with the Parker O-Ring Selector
Two things are equally important for the reliable performance of an O-Ring seal: the right size and the right material. Parker’s O-Ring Selector is an engineering tool that enables users to make the right material and size selections easily, quickly and reliably – in a single application. The accuracy of the results ensures the desired performance of the O-Ring in the subsequent application. This is primarily based on the fact that both functionalities – the material selection and the O-Ring size calculation – are closely interlinked. This achieves a new quality in calculating the total sealing system.
Overview of the O-Ring Selector
The Parker O-Ring Selector is divided into three main sections:
- Service Conditions & Material Selector
- Size Selector
- Notes
The Service Conditions & Material Selector section is focused on mapping the material-related application conditions. Entering the operating temperature range, the desired polymer family and/or material hardness will take the user to the suitable material selection. The Advanced Material Selector enables experienced users to specify the operating conditions in even greater detail. Here the medium to be sealed can be selected from a database containing 2,500 media. In addition, a search for required approvals and conformities can be run.
- August 31, 2022
A common question that comes from many customers is: “Can you tell me which O-ring compound meets this ASTM D2000 callout?” It’s understandable, since at first glance, the ASTM D2000 callout can be intimidating for determining the type of O-ring material. However, the ASTM D2000 is a very useful tool to quickly specify requirements for O-ring materials, and is standardized so it is easy to interpret industry wide. So, what is the
- June 13, 2019
Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Website and was written by Dorothy Kern, applications engineering manager for the Parker
- January 30, 2018
Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Blog.One of the decisions equipment designers need to make when installing O-ring seals in their applications is how much the O-ring will be squeezed by its mating hardware to create an effective seal.
What is O-ring squeeze
Squeeze is a ratio of the amount of deformation applied to the seal expressed as a percentage of the free-state cross-sectional thickness. Deforming the seal cross-section “energizes” the elastomer matrix much like compressing a spring; the inherent elasticity of the rubber material causes it to push back against the mating components. This contact force blocks the passage of liquids, gases and dry powders, preventing them from flowing between the rubber seal and the mating hardware.
The greater the squeeze, the more force is applied against the hardware and the tighter the seal. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that designers should always specify the most squeeze (assuming they knew what that level was or why it was “the most”). There are a number of factors to consider, which include:
