Category Archive: Uncategorized

Michigan Maintenance Guide: Rapid Seal Replacement & Material Selection for MRO

How do I choose the right industrial seal for rapid replacement in Michigan?

To minimize downtime in Michigan’s automotive and heavy duty sectors, select materials based on environment: Nitrile (NBR) for standard oil resistance, Viton (FKM) for high heat engine applications, and EPDM for outdoor weather resistance. Regional inventory from MSP Seals ensures these materials are available for immediate MRO needs.

Why Michigan is Unique

Michigan’s industrial landscape faces specific challenges due to a climate defined by extreme humidity and sub-zero winters. These environmental factors are primary drivers of seal failure in the region:

  • Brittleness: Sub-zero temperatures can cause standard seals to lose elasticity and crack.
  • Swelling: High humidity and specific fluid exposures can cause material expansion that disrupts mechanical tolerances.

Whether you are an automotive component manufacturer or managing factory equipment, maintaining a robust Michigan industrial seal maintenance strategy is essential for Detroit MRO supplies and Grand Rapids hydraulic repair.

The Material Matrix: Comparing Common Maintenance Materials for Michigan Plants

A scannable guide to help Michigan maintenance teams select the right material for the job.

MaterialBest Use CaseKey Technical Benefit
Buna-N (Nitrile)General-purpose maintenanceExcellent oil and grease resistance
Viton (FKM)High-temp engine applicationsWithstands temperatures up to 400°F and chemicals
SiliconeFood-grade or outdoor extreme coldMaintains flexibility in extreme cold environments

Not sure which seal material is right for your application? Check out our guide to make smarter, performance-driven decisions.

Reducing Lead Times with MSP Seals’ Regional Inventory

When a line goes down, “waiting for shipping” is not an option. MSP Seals specializes in reducing lead times by carrying an extensive hydraulic seal inventory in-house readily available to ship to Michigan.

  • Dual Standards: We maintain stock in both Metric and Inch sizes to fit most equipment on your floor.

How to Identify Seal Failure on the Shop Floor

Identifying the root cause of a leak prevents the new seal from failing the same way.

  • Compression Set: The seal has lost its “bounce” and remains flattened in the groove.
  • Chemical Swell: The seal has grown significantly larger than its original size.
  • Extrusion: High pressure has physically “shaved” or nibbled the edges of the seal.

Technical FAQ

Iowa Engineering Guide: Custom Seal Design for Agriculture & Heavy Manufacturing

How does custom seal design improve equipment reliability in Iowa’s agricultural sector?

Custom seal design improves equipment reliability by matching specific materials and unique geometries to the harsh realities of Iowa farming. Standard components often fail under heavy field loads, but custom engineered seals from MSP Seals resist dust, mud, and chemical fertilizers to keep tractors and sprayers running all season.

Why Iowa Farming Demands Custom Engineering

Iowa’s massive agricultural footprint requires modern farm equipment to operate in incredibly demanding environments. Tractors, combines, and heavy sprayers face continuous vibration, abrasive dust, and high pressure hydraulic fluids daily. Standard off the shelf parts simply struggle to keep up with these conditions. Developing a strategy around custom agricultural seal engineering is essential for maintaining Midwest heavy equipment and preventing costly mid-season breakdowns.

Matching the Molding Process to Your Custom Part

At MSP Seals, we utilize different production processes to ensure your custom engineered molded seals meet exact specifications and volume requirements.

  • Injection Molding: The most cost effective option for producing small, intricate parts in high volumes. Heated material is injected into a mold for fast and repeatable production.
  • Compression Molding: Best suited for larger parts or applications with small to moderate volume needs. Material is weighed, placed in a heated mold, and compressed under pressure.
  • Transfer Molding: Ideal for complex geometries requiring tight tolerances at higher production levels.

Moving Beyond Standard Specs with Custom Materials

Who supplies custom engineered seals for heavy loads and fluctuating temperatures? Engineering the right seal means starting with the right compound. We blend virgin PTFE with highly durable fillers like fiberglass, graphite, carbon fiber, and bronze.

These specialized formulations create seals with vastly improved wear resistance and stability for high pressure agricultural applications. MSP Seals offers full PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) support to validate production parts for heavy machinery manufacturing, ensuring every component meets strict industry regulations.

Why Standard Seals Fail in Harsh Farm Environments

When a standard seal fails in the field, it usually comes down to one of three fundamental design flaws that custom engineering can solve.

  • Gland Fill Issues: Standard O-rings might not fit the groove correctly. If the groove has too much space, the seal cannot maintain contact pressure and will inevitably leak.
  • Uneven Loading: Misaligned rods or housings cause rolling, twisting, or tearing of standard seals. Custom designs ensure the seal is seated and supported exactly as intended.
  • Abrasive Wear: Basic rubber degrades rapidly when exposed to Iowa mud and agricultural chemicals. Custom materials are required to resist these specific abrasive and chemical stresses.

Technical FAQ

Injection, Compression, or Transfer? Benefits of Multi-Process Molding

Producing reliable sealing components often requires more than one manufacturing method. Different seal geometries, material properties, and performance requirements call for different molding techniques, and choosing between compression molding, injection molding, and transfer molding is rarely straightforward.

When a sealing project relies on a single process, customers may encounter higher costs, longer lead times, or limitations in part performance. Working with a partner that offers multiple molding methods creates the flexibility needed to produce seals that are precise, durable, and optimized for the application.

Comparing Molding Processes

Creating effective seals starts with understanding how each molding method affects material flow, geometry, and long-term performance. Different materials respond uniquely to heat and pressure, which makes process choice a critical part of achieving accurate, durable sealing components. Recognizing how these molding techniques differ helps ensure each seal is manufactured to perform reliably in demanding environments.

Injection, Compression, and Transfer Methods

Understanding the differences between molding processes makes it easier to select the right method for your needs. Each approach brings specific strengths that can improve accuracy, durability, or production efficiency.

  • Injection molding. Injection molding is effective for small or medium seal components that require tight tolerances. Heated material is injected into a closed mold, which produces consistent cross sections, clean edges, and repeatable results across high volumes.
  • Compression molding. Compression molding forms seals by pressing a pre-measured amount of material into a heated mold. It works well for larger or thicker seal profiles and supports designs that need strong, uniform compression across the entire sealing surface.
  • Transfer molding. Transfer molding pushes pre-heated material from a chamber into the mold cavity, allowing more control over flow and detail. It supports complex features and delivers consistent dimensional control, making it effective for seals that require both precision and strength.

Working with a multi-process partner like MSP Seals ensures each project uses the method that best supports the material, geometry, and performance requirements. This flexibility helps produce reliable sealing components without unnecessary cost, delay, or design compromise.

Why Flexibility Delivers Better Results

Working with a manufacturer that relies on only one molding method can limit seal performance and quality. A multi-process partner provides the freedom to choose the molding technique that best matches the seal’s geometry, material needs, and production goals.

Choosing the Right Molding Process for Your Application

Understanding the strengths of injection, compression, and transfer molding helps match each sealing project with the manufacturing method that will deliver the best performance. Working with a partner that provides all three ensures the flexibility needed to optimize cost, quality, and production speed.

Consider the following factors when selecting the ideal molding method:

  • Part geometry. Smaller seals with thin cross sections or detailed features often require injection molding, while larger profiles or broader sealing surfaces may be better suited to compression or transfer molding.
  • Material behavior. Each molding process handles heat, pressure, and flow differently. Having multiple methods available ensures the chosen material can cure properly, maintain shape, and avoid defects like voids or uneven compression.
  • Production volume. Injection molding is efficient for high volumes, while compression and transfer molding are often better for moderate quantities, prototypes, or evolving designs that still require adjustments.
  • Design complexity. Seals with intricate details, variable wall thicknesses, or features that require controlled material flow often benefit from transfer molding. It provides more flow control than compression molding and handles complex shapes without the tooling cost of injection molding.

How MSP’s Multi-Process Model Delivers Quality and Customization

MSP Seals provides injection, compression, and transfer molding, ensuring every component is matched to the most efficient production method. By combining this multi-process approach with our ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 certified quality management systems and full PPAP capabilities, we deliver faster lead times and seals engineered for high-performance reliability.

To explore MSP’s molding capabilities, request a quote today.

EV Update 2025

Electric Car Charger Illustrations, Royalty-Free Vector Graphics & Clip ...

EV Update:

According to the Tesla Apps, MSP Seals has replaced a total of 2941 gallons of gasoline with emission-free energy.

Guide To Custom Molded Seals for Modern Farm Equipment

Modern tractors, sprayers, combines, and other heavy agricultural machines operate in some of the harshest working environments. These systems depend on reliable sealing components to protect critical parts from dust, mud, hydraulic fluids, and continuous vibration. High-performance agricultural seals help prevent leaks, contamination, and premature equipment wear. When those seals are engineered specifically for the needs of each machine, uptime increases and maintenance costs decrease.

MSP Seals supplies precision custom-molded seals to meet the unique needs of the agriculture industry. With materials tailored to real-world farm conditions, these components support longer service life and more dependable field performance.

Sealing Challenges in Modern Farm Equipment

Agricultural machinery encounters constant mechanical stress and a wide range of environmental hazards. Dust, water, abrasive soil, chemicals, and temperature swings all threaten the integrity of sealing components. Vibrations from engines and hydraulic systems can also compromise poorly fitted or low-quality seals.

In these conditions, generic parts often fail early. Seals must be engineered to perform reliably despite continual movement, heavy loads, and exposure to contaminants.

Exposure, Abrasion, and Hydraulic Pressure

Farm equipment runs in wet, dirty, and chemically aggressive environments. Seals are routinely exposed to water, fertilizers, oils, UV light, and ozone. If seal materials are not suited to these conditions, they can harden, crack, or lose elasticity, which reduces their ability to protect critical components.

Abrasive soil, sand, and dust are constant threats as well. These particles collect on shafts and moving parts, then grind against sealing surfaces. Over time, this abrasion can wear down the seal, increase leakage risk, and shorten the service life of agricultural equipment. Hydraulic systems add even more stress because they depend on stable pressure, and a single leak can reduce power and force unwanted downtime.

MSP Seals helps manage these challenges by supplying custom molded agricultural seals that are selected and designed for tough farm environments. By matching materials and geometries to the intended application, MSP Seals helps equipment stay sealed longer, operate more reliably, and avoid costly interruptions during critical seasons.

How Custom Molding Improves Uptime

Custom molded seals are built to match the exact dimensions and operating conditions of agricultural equipment, which creates a more reliable and longer-lasting seal than standard parts. By aligning the seal’s geometry and material properties with the pressures, movements, and fluids present in each application, custom components reduce leakage, resist premature wear, and support consistent performance throughout long field cycles.

MSP Seals’ Rubber, PTFE, and Composite Capabilities

MSP Seals offers a wide selection of material options to ensure each agricultural seal performs reliably in harsh farm environments. Our material expertise allows seals to be matched to the fluids, temperatures, and pressures common in tractors, sprayers, and other equipment.

  • Rubber materials. MSP Seals works with a range of elastomers suited for agricultural use, including nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR, Buna-N), fluorocarbon, FKM, EPDM, silicone, fluorosilicone, neoprene, and polyurethane. These materials provide flexibility, chemical resistance, and durability in applications exposed to oils, fuels, fertilizers, and outdoor conditions.
  • PTFE materials. MSP Seals blends virgin PTFE with fillers like fiberglass, MoS2, graphite, carbon fiber, and bronze to create seals with improved wear resistance, stability, and chemical compatibility. These formulations support reliable sealing in high-pressure, high-cycle agricultural applications.
  • Composite materials. We offer high-performance composite options, including graphite, Teflon-graphite blends, and metal-reinforced elastomers. These materials provide added strength and stability for sealing points exposed to heavy loads or fluctuating temperatures.

Using these materials, MSP Seals can supply a wide range of custom agricultural seals, including:

Custom Agricultural Seals From MSP Seals, Inc.

Agricultural equipment must withstand dirt, debris, vibration, and chemical exposure. Choosing the right sealing partner is essential for keeping machines operational. MSP Seals has more than 25 years of experience supplying agricultural seals and custom-molded seals that support performance in real-world farm environments.

All products are supplied under ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 quality standards, ensuring consistent durability and reliability.

To learn more about our custom-engineered sealing solutions for agricultural machinery, request a quote today.

Agricultural Seal Design for Harsh Farm Environments

Farm equipment operates in some of the toughest environments found in any industry, which makes effective agricultural seal design essential for long-term reliability. Dust, mud, hydraulic fluids, fertilizers, and extreme temperatures all influence how seals perform once equipment enters the field.

When seals are not chosen or designed correctly, tractors, sprayers, loaders, and harvesters can experience leaks, pressure loss, or premature wear that interrupts operations. Understanding how materials, geometry, and design choices affect performance helps ensure equipment stays productive and protected.

Understanding Environmental Stress on Agricultural Seals

Agricultural equipment encounters both mechanical stress and severe environmental exposure. Every component must operate near soil, moisture, sunlight, and debris, and seals are often the first line of defense between sensitive parts and the outside environment. A seal that fails can cause contamination, lost fluids, or reduced pressure in hydraulic systems. These issues lead to downtime, which is especially costly during planting or harvest seasons.

Mud, Heat, and Chemical Exposure Factors

Many of the stresses affecting seals in farm equipment come from day-to-day field conditions. Effective agricultural seal design considers how each of the following factors will impact performance:

  • Contamination. Soil, mud, dust, and rainwater frequently accumulate around sealing points. Seals must prevent contaminants from entering critical components while also resisting abrasion caused by fine particles. The wrong material or design can accelerate wear and reduce sealing effectiveness.
  • Temperature extremes. Agricultural machinery may operate in freezing winter temperatures and intense summer heat. These fluctuations cause seals to expand and contract, which can weaken materials that do not tolerate thermal cycling. Poor temperature resistance leads to cracking, permanent deformation, or loss of elasticity.
  • Chemical exposure. Agriculture relies on fertilizers, oils, fuel, and hydraulic fluids that can break down certain sealing materials. As such, agricultural seals must be matched to the specific chemicals they will encounter to prevent swelling, embrittlement, or rapid degradation.

Material and Geometry Optimization

Once environmental stresses are understood, the next step in agricultural seal design is selecting materials and geometries that support reliable sealing. Seal materials directly influence flexibility, chemical resistance, heat tolerance, and wear performance. Equally important is the shape of the seal and how it interacts with the gland or housing.

Choosing the right combination of material properties and dimensional design helps prevent overstressing the seal and ensures the component maintains contact pressure in real operating conditions.

How Design Impacts Agricultural Seal Integrity

Several design choices determine whether a seal will perform reliably throughout the full lifecycle of agricultural equipment. Effective seal engineering considers the following factors:

  • Material selection. The performance and durability of a seal depend heavily on the chosen material. Elastomers that soften in heat, become brittle in cold, or react with farm chemicals will fail early. Matching the material to the specific operating environment prevents melting, cracking, or chemical breakdown.
  • Seal geometry. The shape of the seal affects its ability to flex, conform to surfaces, and maintain pressure. Seals must be designed to accommodate movement without distorting or losing contact. The right geometry also reduces friction and minimizes heat buildup during equipment operation.
  • Gland fill considerations. O-rings need a small amount of open space in the groove so they can compress and expand as temperatures and pressures change. If the groove is too full, the seal becomes overstressed and may distort or leak. If it has too much space, the seal cannot maintain enough contact pressure. Proper gland fill ensures the O-ring seals consistently without being damaged during operation.

Key Takeaways on Designing Reliable Agricultural Seals

Reliable agricultural seal design depends on choosing materials and geometries that can withstand mud, heat, chemicals, and constant equipment movement. When seals are engineered for the environment they operate in, they protect critical components and reduce the risk of leaks or premature wear.

Partnering with an experienced sealing partner helps ensure each design choice supports long-term performance. MSP Seals provides material expertise and custom molding capabilities needed to create dependable sealing solutions for modern farm equipment. For more information about how we can support your agricultural sealing needs, request a quote today.

Preventing Hydraulic Seal Failures in Fluid Power Systems

Hydraulic equipment depends on effective sealing to maintain power, contain fluid, and protect internal components. When hydraulic seal failure occurs, systems lose pressure, fluid leaks, and operations come to a stop. Fortunately, most failures can be prevented with proper seal design, material selection, and maintenance practices. Understanding the most common causes of seal failure allows equipment operators to take steps that reduce downtime and protect critical assets.

Root Causes of Seal Failure

Hydraulic seals usually fail for predictable reasons. By identifying and understanding the causes of seal failure, maintenance teams can build stronger preventive strategies, extend equipment life, and reduce the risk of unexpected shutdowns.

Pressure, Contamination, and Misalignment

Hydraulic seal issues often fall into three categories:

  1. Pressure spikes. Sudden increases in system pressure can overload sealing surfaces and cause the material to extrude or tear. Rapid cylinder movement, fluctuating loads, or relief valves set outside recommended limits can quickly damage seal integrity.
  2. Contamination. Dirt, metal shavings, degraded fluid, and moisture can increase friction, raise operating temperatures, and cut into soft sealing materials. Even small amounts of debris can lead to accelerated wear, especially in cylinders that cycle frequently.
  3. Poor alignment. If rods, housings, or cylinder components are not properly aligned, seals experience uneven loading. This can cause rolling, twisting, or tearing. Even high-quality materials cannot perform correctly if the seal is not seated or supported as intended.

Preventive Maintenance Best Practices

Preventing hydraulic seal failure requires a proactive approach that focuses on proper material selection, installation, fluid condition, and system monitoring.

Material and Installation Guidance

To ensure seal longevity and prevent damage during operation, consider the following best practices:

  • Choose the right materials. Hydraulic systems operate under varying temperatures, fluid chemistries, and pressure levels. Matching seal materials to the application helps prevent swelling, cracking, thermal damage, or chemical breakdown that could lead to seal failure.
  • Use clean, compatible hydraulic fluid. Using fluid that is too thin, too thick, or incompatible with the seal material can lead to internal deterioration. Regularly replace oil based on OEM recommendations and verify that filtration systems are functioning properly to reduce contamination.
  • Ensure proper installation. Incorrect installation is a leading cause of premature hydraulic seal failure. Avoid twisting the seal during installation, use appropriate assembly tools, and inspect gland surfaces to ensure they are smooth, clean, and free of burrs.
  • Monitor system pressure. Relief valves, accumulators, and sensors should be inspected regularly to keep pressure within acceptable ranges. Tracking pressure spikes can help identify early warning signs before the seal is damaged.
  • Maintain proper alignment. Inspect rod straightness, mounting hardware, and bushings. Even slight misalignment can create lateral forces that quickly damage seal surfaces or cause uneven wear.

Why MSP’s Engineered Seals Improve System Reliability

Many hydraulic seal problems can be prevented through better engineering. MSP Seals offers precision sealing components that are built to handle demanding pressure ranges, aggressive fluid environments, and continuous duty cycles. MSP Seals can supply custom hydraulic seals that maintain integrity in harsh fluid power environments, helping reduce downtime and extend equipment life.

If you want longer-lasting sealing performance in your hydraulic systems, request a quote and let MSP Seals help you select the right solution for your application.

Shout Out To Trine University Mechanical Engineering Students!

Trine University Shell Eco-marathon team members, from left, Jacob Batten, Ezekiel Keim, Christian Verst, Preston Badiac, Michael Jones, Ryan Somsel, Collin Seegert and Tristan Pappano. Badiac is a design engineering student at Trine who is assisting the team. (Photo by Dean Orewiler / Trine University)

 

Trine University engineering seniors secure sponsorship from hometown for senior design project

For more information contact: James Tew, 260.665.4133, tewj@trine.edu

ANGOLA, Ind. (12/17/2025) — Trine engineering mechanical engineering majors Ezekiel Keim, Christian Verst, Collin Seegert, Jacob Batten, Michael Jones, Ryan Somsel and Tristan Pappano secured a sponsorship from one of their hometowns for their senior design project, an entry for the annual Shell Eco-marathon.

Students have to go through the process of soliciting sponsors on their own by marketing their project and describing the benefits of sponsoring them.

The Shell Eco-marathon challenges students to create the most energy-efficient vehicle possible. There are three categories students can compete in: hydrogen fuel cell, battery-electric, and internal combustion engine.

Keim said, “Our team is competing in the Prototype Internal Combustion Engine category, pushing the limits of fuel efficiency with a lightweight frame, aerodynamic body, precision tires, and a finely tuned engine built to go farther on less.”

Support from home

The group received many sponsorships from companies like Michelin, MSP Seals, Acieta-Capital Industries, Eaton, GDC and Sage RV. However, one of the most personal sponsorships was from Batten’s hometown of Morristown, Indiana.

Batten reached out to Morristown’s police chief to inquire about a sponsorship. He sent their group brochure designed by Keim, which detailed all the information about their project and what a sponsorship would entail.

Seegert said, “It felt incredibly relieving to receive this sponsorship. Our project requires significant funding and having Jacob’s hometown support us was both encouraging and motivating. It showed that our community believes in what we’re doing.”

The project requires a lot of hard work with several challenging design elements. The biggest challenge for the group is creating the body of the vehicle that they will be showcasing at the competition.

Seegert said, “One major challenge we’ve faced is creating the vehicle’s body. We’re building a carbon fiber monocoque, which involves laying carbon fiber over a sacrificial foam mold, a process that demands precision and practice. We’ve completed a few practice layups at quarter- and half-scale to refine our technique.”

“Our favorite part of this project is definitely the team dynamic. Everyone contributes equally, and we work extremely well together, constantly bouncing ideas off one another to improve our design,” Seegert said.

Choosing the Right Material: A Seal Selection Guide for Midwest Manufacturers

One of the most important considerations for manufacturing seals, gaskets, and grommets is the choice of material. Pieces made from different specialty rubbers “behave” differently depending on the operating conditions and the nature of the application. Looking at the chemical and mechanical properties of each material as well as their suitability for exposure to stressors like chemicals, oil, or extreme temperatures is the critical first step in determining the best material for the job. Factors like part design and dimensions and price are also part of the equation.

MSP Seals supplies customers in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee with high-quality industry seals for a variety of applications, and we also work with customers globally. We specialize in creating high-performance seals that are durable and help keep equipment running reliably for longer, while also keeping costs low.

Our selection guide will help you understand the key properties of various rubber materials, and examples of specialty materials for various use cases.

Understanding the Factors: Temperature, Chemical, and Abrasive Stress

It’s useful to start by identifying the mechanical properties and resistance to environmental damage that will be important for your application, such as:

  • Temperature extremes. Very high or low temperatures can have a negative effect on the integrity of a seal and the durability of the material. Fluctuating temperatures can also weaken materials.
  • Chemical compatibility. Seals must be made from materials that are compatible with any fluids and gases with which they will come into contact during normal operations. These substances can quickly break down, or dissolve seals, or compromise their performance.
  • Abrasive environments. Particulates, friction from moving parts, and other abrasive factors require materials that are wear resistant and tough.
  • Pressure and stress. High pressures can deform seals or cause them to shift during operations. Choosing a material that can resist damage from pressure, such as those with low compression set, keeps seals from permanently deforming.
  • Ozone and UV radiation. Some elastomers break down when exposed to ozone or UV radiation, making them a poor choice for outdoor or aerospace applications.
  • Compliance. Depending on the intended application, seal materials must comply with environmental regulations, or industry and safety standards.

Comparing Elastomers: When to Choose NBR vs. EPDM vs. FKM

Once you’ve identified what performance requirements or material characteristics your seal needs to have, compare likely materials to determine the best fit. NBR, EPDM, and FKM are three popular synthetic rubbers (i.e., elastomers) and understanding how they differ is helpful in making the decision.

  • Nitrile (NBR), or Buna-N: Excellent resistance to petroleum-based chemicals, relatively low production cost, versatile, and commonly used in general industry, automotives, and hydraulics.
  • Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM): Excellent resistance to ozone, water and steam, weather, and chemicals such as ester-based hydraulic fluids and brake fluids.
  • Fluoroelastomer (FKM): Extremely resistant to acids, hydrocarbons, and other chemicals, handles high temperature extremes in very demanding applications.

Temperature Ranges

Determine the likely temperature range the seal will experience. NBR can perform well in temperatures from -40°F to 250°F, EPDM in temperatures from -40˜F to 300°F, and FKM from -15°F to 400°F.

Chemical Resistance

EPDM is not compatible with petroleum-based materials. NBR can resist chemical damage from petroleum-based materials, but it breaks down in the presence of brake fluids, ketones, and ozone. FKM is generally resistant to a wide range of chemicals, but not ethers, low-molecular-weight esters, or ketones.

Abrasive Resistance

NBR and EPDM both offer generally good abrasion resistance, with NBR being suited to dynamic abrasive forces. Different formulations of FKM offer different degrees of abrasion resistance.

Hardness and Compression Set

Higher compression set materials are more formable, compressible, and prone to deforming under pressure. Whether these characteristics offer an advantage depends on the details of the application. EPDM has a higher compression set than either NBR or FKM, making it more resilient.

Beyond Elastomers: Specialty Materials for Extreme Conditions

The engineering experts at MSP Seals can work with you to determine the right material and grade for every project. In addition to NBR, EPDM, and FKM, there is a large selection of specialty rubbers available for sealing applications, including:

  • Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM): Extreme chemical resistance, even at very high temperatures; commonly used in semiconductor and chemical processing applications.
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): Very low coefficient of friction, good chemical resistance, reduced elasticity; suitable for static seals in non-stick or other low-friction applications.
  • Polyurethane (PU): Resists abrasion and extrusion better than others; good toughness for high-pressure hydraulics that generate mechanical stress.
  • Aflas (TFE/P): Chemical- and temperature-resistant fluorostomer often used in oil processing and applications with strong bases, sour gas (i.e., hydrogen sulfide), and steam.
  • Silicone (VMQ): Good flexibility in hot and cold temperatures, incompatible with most chemicals and low abrasion resistance; performs best in static sealing applications.
  • Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR): Superior abrasion and temperature resistance compared to NBR, compatible with petroleum-based fluids in oil drilling and automotive applications.
  • Application-specific compounds: Specialty materials in different grades and formulations for applications with unique challenges.

Seal Material Guidance and Manufacturing From MSP Seals

Material choice is a critical first step to project success, and MSP Seals can provide guidance on a variety of materials for hard-working seals that can resist damage from mechanical stress, chemicals, extreme temperatures, and other hazards. With PPAP capabilities to provide sealing solutions, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, we are ready to support your next project and needs. Contact MSP Seals today to learn more about our selection of materials, or request a quote to start your order.

MSP Seals @ Pennsy Trail in Greenfield

 

MSP Seals worked with the great staff of Greenfield Parks on Saturday, clearing away invasive plants at the 400E trail head. Had an awesome sunny day and had quite a bit of work accomplished!

Thanks Parks Department for the opportunity and for the BEAUTIFUL trail!!

Next opportunities will be coming up in October with several options with the Hancock Co. Master Gardeners.