O-Rings

Not all O-ring compounds perform the same under pressure, heat, or chemical exposure. This guide breaks down Varigate's full range of available compounds, from Nitrile and Viton™ to Perfluoroelastomer and Aflas™, including durometer ratings, temperature ranges, and recommended applications, so you can confidently select the right material for your operating conditions.

Proper groove design is critical to O-ring performance. This reference covers cross-section tolerances, gland types, extrusion gap guidelines, ISO 3601 groove dimensions for static and dynamic applications, and tolerances for non-standard O-rings, giving your engineering team the precise specifications needed to design reliable sealing assemblies from the start.

Find the right fit the first time. This chart covers the full range of AS568 imperial dash numbers with nominal and actual inner diameter and cross-section dimensions, tolerances, and Varigate part numbers across all available compounds. The 900 Series (ORB) sizing chart is also included for face seal and port applications.

Working in metric? This chart provides inner diameter and cross-section dimensions in millimetres across Varigate's full range of metric O-ring part numbers, available in Nitrile, Viton™, and HNBR compounds at multiple durometer ratings. With over 300 entries, it's a practical reference for sourcing the exact metric size your application requires.

Even the right O-ring can fail if conditions aren't properly managed. This guide identifies ten of the most common failure modes, including extrusion, compression set, chemical degradation, and explosive decompression, with visual examples, root causes, and corrective actions for each. A useful troubleshooting reference for engineers and maintenance teams looking to extend seal life and prevent repeat failures.

Choosing the right elastomer starts with understanding how each material behaves in your specific environment. This guide covers eleven materials, including Nitrile, FKM, HNBR, PTFE, FFKM, and Silicone, with temperature ranges, key performance characteristics, and compatibility considerations for each. Whether you're sealing against petroleum fluids, steam, or aggressive chemicals, this reference helps narrow down the right material choice before you order.