O-RINGS are solid-rubber, doughnut shaped seals. When pressed between two mating surfaces, O-rings block the passage of liquids or gases. O-rings can form a static or dynamic seals. A static seal is where the O-ring does not move and is used simply for containing pressure or maintaining a vacuum. Dynamic seals can be reciprocating (like a piston and cylinder), or rotating (shaft rotating in a housing). Axial squeeze and radial squeeze are two methods for applying an O-ring. An axial squeeze is when the ring is compressed parallel to a line drawn through the center or axis of the ring.
O-rings are typically available in standard sizes as per industry standards. These include "AS568" standard sizes (001-475), British Standard Metric Sizes, JIS Standard Sizes, JASO Standard Sizes, AS871, and custom. When custom o-rings are required, the width or Thickness, Insider Diameter, and Outside Diameter are important to consider. Common materials of construction for o-rings include Aflas, Viton, Silicon, Hypalon, EPDM, TPR, NBR, Neoprene, PTFE, PU, SBR & NATURAL.