Monday, September 26, 2011

Vulcanized O-ring Splicing - Custom O-rings

Vulcanizing is like hot gluing. This process is most often used to make O-rings. A small amount of adhesive is applied to a length of profile. The ends are pressed together and the joint is placed in a hot mold. Heat activates the glue, and pressure from the mold ensures the joint will be consistent with the dimensions of the profile. When the product is removed and cooled, the result is a reliable splice. This is an excellent and very effective process for splicing solid or sponge products with no internal cavity.

A: Prepare the o-ring cord stock, mark where the part will be cut, and cut the o-ring cord to the length required, using a Razor Blade or Gasket Knife. Determine the cut length of the desired o-ring based on these calculations:  (I.D. of O-Ring + 1 Cross Section) x 3.1416  =  Cut Length. Make sure you have a clean square cut on both ends of the rubber cord.

B: Apply bonding adhesive to both ends of the cord, allow the adhesive to air dry to a dull finish. Pay particular attention to insuring that the edges of the o-ring ends are thoroughly covered with adhesive.  In some cases, the adhesive will have a wet/dry condition on the ends. The dry portion will indicate that the adhesive has been absorbed into the rubber. In this situation, apply a second coat of adhesive. Allow the ends to air-dry so that the solvent in the adhesive can evaporate. The ends should have a dull matte finish after the solvent has evaporated.

C: Wearing heat proof gloves, bring both o-ring cord ends together in the Die-Set and close the top die, this will hold the o-ring cord in place. Depending on the cross-section diameter and material type, the cure time can vary. The time usually ranges from 3 to 10 minutes depending in size. Warm up time should be at least 10 minutes allowing the Die-Set to attain the proper temperature for vulcanization.

D: After the vulcanizing cycle open the Die-Set, and expose the finished o-ring.

E: Place the finished o-ring aside to cool, do not flex or stress the bonded joint while still hot.

Hot Vulcanized O-rings from The O-ring Store forms a strong molecular bond. The standard in splicing quality and order turn around time. With an extensive inventory of extruded cord stock, we are able to ship orders in 2-7 days.

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