What is the function of a seal in a pneumatic system?

 The pneumatic seals are, mainly used to contain fluids. It is made with materials with advanced properties which offer compromise with friction loads, type of fluids, and the effects of temperature and pressure. The friction in the pneumatic cylinders is the major factor impacting their performances. The seal plays an important role in a pneumatic cylinder. There is always friction created by piston seals in pneumatic cylinders. Piston and rod seals are tested separately to study the friction caused by each seal!

The sealing solution in pneumatic cylinders is a major component, as it allows maintaining the cylinder’s pneumatic power. It contributes to the amount of energy caused by friction! The pneumatic seals have a direct impact on the lifetime of the cylinders. The pneumatic seals manufacturers globally have upheld the importance of seals in a cylinder, be it hydraulic or pneumatic ones!

If a seal gets into malfunction due to the wrong choice of the seal material, unsuitable surface texture, any incompatible lubricant will result in high friction, low sealing performance, and very low system efficiency, etc.!

Pneumatic cylinders are used in industrial applications to produce forces in reciprocating linear motion according to worldwide pneumatic seal suppliers.

Compared to other devices producing the same forces, such as hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders have advantages that include high speed, reliability, low cost, easy assembly, easy maintenance and availability of compressed air in almost all industrial installations.

The pneumatic seals manufacturers produce both the seals. Hydraulic seals and pneumatic seals. Both require the following components which are essential for the functioning:

• Piston seals

• Rod seals

• U-cups

• Cup

• Wire

• Piston

• Flange packing’s etc.

There are some important specifications of piston seals for pneumatic cylinders. They include dimensions, operating parameters and materials.

Dimensions are as under:

• Shaft outer diameter or seal inner diameter

• Housing bore diameter or seal outer diameter

• Axial cross section or thickness

• Radial cross section

The below operating parameters are required 

• Maximum operating speed

• Maximum operating pressure

• Vacuum rating

• Operating temperature

Materials are of different choice:

Rubber sealing element or lip material choices for pneumatic seals as given below:

• Ethylene acrylic

• EDPM

• Fluor elastomer

• Fluorosilicate

• Nitrile

• Nylon or polyamide

• Polychloroprene

• Natural rubber etc.