There are many decisions to consider when designing a seal or gasket. Some of those are listed below - but one thing is certain...if you have a need... Lauren can create a sealing solution. We are second to none for being problem solvers - solution providers as we bring over 35 years of design experience to your project. If you don't find what you need here - please pick up the phone and give us a call for assistance.
Determine whether an application calls for sponge or dense material. Along with this initial determination, closing force requirements need to be considered. The second consideration is the sealing environment and thirdly is exactly how the seal will be attached. The good news is that Lauren is expert in these areas and your design process doesn't have to be a guessing process. Click on the links below for in-depth information about some of design considerations or visit our on-line resource center for a complete copy of our design guide. For more information or help with questions, call 800-683-0676 or send an e-mail.
The right material
Selecting the best elastomer for an application involves answering many questions. Temperature and other environmental factors can affect the long-term physical properties of a compound.
The right compound
Developing the right compound (material) is a crucial step in the design process. In their original state, most rubber polymers have limited commercial value. Therefore, a compound "recipe" must be developed to enhance or add to a polymer's inherent physical and chemical characteristics, and to insure efficient molding or extruding.
Classification of flexible cellular materials
All of Lauren Manufacturing’s sponge products are identified by a three-character Grade Number. The three characters represent type, class and grade, and are defined in this section.
Compression set test
The term compression set test is the amount, measured in percentage, by which a standard rubber test piece fails to return to its original thickness after being subjected to a standard compressive load or deflection for a fixed period of time. The set test is used to determine the quality of rubber compounds and their applicability to certain types of usage.
Seal & gasket design considerations
This section is intended to give design engineers the basic facts needed to begin the process of designing effective rubber seals, gaskets and weather stripping. It is not intended to provide every piece of information available on the process of extrusion and molding; the amount of information available is simply too great. However, it should serve as a starting point and give engineers the necessary information to better understand what they need to consider during the design process.
RMA tolerance tables
Selecting the right seal or gasket for a specific application involves answering many questions about what your needs might be. To help begin this process, the following tables are available for you to outline any preliminary ideas you have for your gasket shape or profile cross-section.
Glossary
Technical definitions of terms
