The O-Ring: History and Applications

O-rings are very commonplace today and used in a wide variety of applications. The O-ring may also be known as a toric joint or packing. It is a donut shape loop of elastomer with a circular cross-section that is explicitly designed to be placed in a groove and compressed between two or more parts, creating a seal where the parts meet. While o-rings are very commonplace today, they have been in use for less than 100 years.

O-rings: The Beginning

It is often said that the o-ring was invented in the United States during World War II, but this isn’t entirely accurate. The o-ring was actually developed just before the war in 1936, by Danish-born Niels Christensen. During the war, it was found that many businesses were in violation of Christensen's patent rights, so the United States bought the patent from Christensen for $72,000. Because the o-ring is a relatively simple product, it’s general design has stayed the same, although it is now used in many more applications and is available in a wide variety of materials.

The Modern O-Ring

Many in the public who were unfamiliar with o-rings became acquainted with the part in 1986 due to the failure of Dupont’s Viton o-ring. This failure was responsible for the space shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. Upon further examination, researchers found that the cold weather before the launch negatively impacted the flexibility of the o-ring.

Luckily, since the Challenger disaster, the rubber industry has gone through a transformation. Today, the manufacturing of all o-rings comes with a batch number and serial date to track distribution. If an inspector finds any issues with a batch, it makes recalling the products much more straightforward.

Today, different materials allow for a variety of o-ring options. The material of choice will depend on the application, fluids, and temperatures they may encounter.

The most common materials include but may not be limited to:

• Aflas

• Neoprene/Chloroprene

• Ethylene propylene

• Fluoroelastomer

• Fluorosilicone

• Nitrile

• PTFE

• Silicone

• Urethane/Polyurethane

O-rings are used in an almost endless number of applications, and those applications seem to grow by the year. They are instrumental because they can accommodate imperfect mounting and offer a variety of sizes and materials. While their use continues to grow, some of the most common applications include:

• The oil field

• Refrigeration

• Air conditioning

• Hydraulics

• Pneumatic tools

• Automotive industry

• Firearms

O-rings are used in many settings where you may not even think of them such as in dental implants, scuba gear, beverage dispensing in restaurants, and even in your paintball gun. The uses are very broad, making orings one of the most versatile fluid sealing products on the market today.

APG Wants to be Your O-rings Supplier

Are you looking for an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of orings? Since 1943 APG has been providing the highest quality orings to an ever-growing number of clients. We are proud to be a company that is globally recognized for providing high-quality fluid sealing and conveyance products. Our goal is to provide the highest quality products, getting them to our clientele as quickly as possible.

For any additional o-ring questions,

Contact APG Today