Friction Fit Spliced Profiles
Perhaps the best option for incorporating retention with an existing groove is a spliced profile. Spliced profiles are designed and manufactured for proper sealing position held in the groove by friction.
For the friction-fit hollow profile, the seal cross section is designed to be oversized from the groove width, creating a frictional interference between the seal and the groove, resulting in the self-retaining capability of the seal.
For the friction-fit solid profile, the retaining features are integrated directly onto the seal outside and/ or inside diameter. Those features create an interference between the seal and the groove wall, resulting in the self-retaining capability for the seal.
Solid and Hollow profiles can be designed to match an existing O-ring size or made to be a custom sizes as a way to address other groove issues. These self-retaining seals are available in a variety of friction-fit geometries. The Hollow O is the most popular however the options are unlimited, including an Omega profile, a D profile, the P profile and more.
Typical applications of hollow O products include enclosure applications and static applications that require environmental sealing.
For a full description of all the advantages offered by a hollow profile, download our Self Retaining Seals bulletin.
Material Availability: Friction Fit Spliced profiles are available in a broad range of materials (silicone, nitrile, EPDM / EPR, HNBR, fluorosilicone, FKM and FFKM).
Specialty approved materials include UL 94 V-0, UL 157, UL 497, NSF Standard 61, USP Class VI, FDA White List, and a variety of ASTM, MIL, and SAE certified materials.
