When designing an enclosure, sealing is a critical consideration; one that must take into account the environmental factors that the enclosure will be subject to.
While the final choice of a sealing material should be made by a professional (such as our materials experts, who work in tandem with industrial designers and engineers), here are a few material characteristics to take into consideration. This is not a conclusive list, so give us a call if you have questions.
Wide temperature range: Choose silicone foam such as BISCO Silicone, or a silicone sponge material.
UV/ozone resistance: EDPM, silicone sponge and BISCO Silicone foam are the best options.
C-set resistance: A polyurethane such as PORON (medium or high density) is a good choice, as well as BISCO Silicone.
Solvent and chemical resistance: Choose a PVC material (although it has a narrow temperature range) or vinyl nitrile, which also resists petroleum.
Acid/base resistance: Neoprene will be your best option.
Low outgassing: Choose a silicone foam such as BISCO Silicone, a silicone sponge material, or a polyurethane such as PORON (medium or high density).
Superior flame resistance: Consider a silicone foam such as BISCO Silicone.
Cost: Polyethylene is low cost, but it has a low c-set, low force relaxation, and low PSA anchorage. Never skip out on price, as it often correlates
As you can see, choosing the right enclosure sealing material can be quite a challenge. Our materials experts are here to help you every step of the way.
Need Custom-Fabricated Sealing Materials? Call 952-368-4225 To Talk to an Expert Now!
American Flexible Products is a nation-wide converter of flexible materials—from foam to rubber to silicone and more. Every product is custom-cut and shaped to your design specs by our materials engineers. We are an official 3M™ Preferred Converter and Preferred Converter of products from Rogers Corporation, allowing us to custom fabricate 3M and Rogers products. Contact us today and our material experts will help you choose the right grade, size, and shape for your prototype.
