Low-Closure-Force Static Sealing

Hollow Cross-Section, Low-Closure-Force (LCF) Seals Reduce Bolt Loading and Flange Requirements

The need for easy-to-compress, low-closure-force seals is rapidly increasing in many commercial, electronic and communications applications. If you require efficient, reliable seals for light-weight enclosures with minimal bolts, fasteners or latches in combination with thin sheet metal or plastic flanges, consider LCF Seals. LCF Seals can drastically reduce the amount of closure force (compression) and the resulting stress generated on the sealed components. Hollow Cross-Sectional Seals offer the seal designer and user a low-closure-force sealing solution for many applications. LCF Seals may be supplied as either:

• Long Length Extrusions
• Spliced Rings/Gaskets
• Cut to Length Extrusions

To date, the most common method for reducing closure force has been to reduce the Shore hardness of the elastomeric seal material or change to a foam-type of material. The best method to achieve a dramatic reduction in closure-force is to change from a solid to a hollow cross-sectional profile without lowering the durometer hardness. Controlling wall thickness is key to lowering the lbs/in compression force required.

Require Spliced Rings?
Parker has developed a number of proprietary splicing and bonding methods for joining cord stock and extruded profiles into large diameter O-rings and seals.