our products
Inflatable Seals
Fabric reinforced seals for 100% gas tight sealing
Introduction
Inflatable Seals
Inflatable seals are rubber seals which inflate (rather than compress) to offer contamination proof sealing in a wide range of applications. When compared to regular elastomeric seals, inflatable seals work effectively in irregular or misaligned surfaces, which enhances their sealing integrity. They are specifically designed to inflate, which ultimately helps to form a tight barrier between the mounting and striking surface. Inflatable seals are simpler to use as they demand less force while guaranteeing 100% sealing. It is the ideal fix for your unique sealing
applications.
Features
Products Benefits
Asia’s largest and fastest manufacturer of inflatable seals
Inflatable seals with 6 month warranty certification
Design guidance for customized seals
Classification
Non-Reinforced Inflatable Seals
Non-reinforced inflatable seals are made only from elastomers & are mostly extruded constructions; however, they can be molded to meet specific dimensional parameters.They are the preferred option for regular sealing applications as they are relatively affordable and do not compromise on quality and performance
Fabric Reinforced Inflatable Seals
Molded fabric reinforced inflatable seals are recommended in applications involving extreme pressure/temperature conditions or in rugged environments. The molding process eliminates joints and the fabric reinforcement adds to the seal’s overall strength and resilience. Depending upon the application, one of the following fabrics is chosen
- NYLONTM
- DACRONTM
- NOMEXTM
- KEVLARTM
Axial
Axially expanding Inflatable Seals have the centerline diameter as the fixed dimension. The Inflatable Seal expands in the perpendicular direction with respect to the diameter. These seals are sometimes also referred to as face seals.
Radial-Outward
Seals expanding radially outward have the Air Inlet Valves(AIV) typically installed into a channel with the inside diameter (ID) as the fixed dimension.
Radial-Inward
Inflatable seals with small outside diameters may end up wrinkling with this kind of expansion. Seals expanding radially inward have Air Inlet Valves(AIV) typically installed into a channel with the outside diameter (OD).
Circular
Circular seals are mostly preferred for sealing manhole covers, hopper seals or in industrial machinery like fluidized bed dryers & autoclaves; wherein the machines are made in circular dimensions.
Rectangular
Rectangular seals are very commonly used for sealing applications like doors for clean rooms, nuclear facilites, satellite testing facilities, etc.
Straight
Inflatable seals with straight configurations are most commonly found in clamps and actuators. Straight seals have vulcanized ends that do not expand. Western Rubbers’ also provides retention mechanisms for straight seals.
U shaped
U shaped seals are a common configuration in inflatable gate seals. Ends of u-shaped seals are vulcanized & hence cannot inflate. Appropriate retention mechanisms for this configuration is available at Western Rubbers.
standard Dimensions
Inflatable Seals Profile
Our use Cases
Applications
Inflatable Seal for Robotic Automation Systems
Inflatable seals revolutionize robotic clamping systems, offering unparalleled precision and versatility in automation processes. These innovative seals expand uniformly, providing a secure grip on diverse surfaces while minimizing the risk of component damage. Their adaptive nature allows for seamless handling of irregular or delicate items, expanding the capabilities of automated systems.
Gas Tight Inflatable Door Seal for Hazardous Facilities
Inflatable rubber seals offer an effective and secure solution for gas-tight door sealing in hazardous facilities. Incorporating inflatable seals in gas-tight doors enhances safety and regulatory compliance, making them essential in laboratories, chemical plants, and other hazardous environments.
Low Smoke Silicone Inflatable Seals for Trains
Custom Made EPDM and Silicone Inflatable Seals for Rail and Mass Transit industry that are tested to stringent norms of EN 45545 , UL V0, FMVSS and other such fire safety standards.
Fabric Reinforced EPDM Inflatable seal for Nuclear Power Plants
Western Rubbers Inflatable Seals manufactured for the nuclear facility are radiation tested. Designed to be resilient to radiation ensure leak proof sealing in extrement conditions .
USP class Vl Inflatable Seal for Pharmaceutical Equipments
Silicone Inflatable Seals for Medical and Phamaceutical application meets US FDA, USP CLASS Vl and EU pharmacopoeia requirements. Some of the applications included Fludised Bed Dryers/processors, Glove box Isolators, Tablet Coater, Clean Room Doors, Laboratory Automation Equipments.
Semiconductor Equipment Inflatable Seals
Inflatable Seals for the semiconductor industry are designed with fabric reinforced for vey high cycle life. These are specifically packed in clean room enviroments for highly critical semiconductor manufacturing facilities. These inflatable seals are used in Lithography Equipment , Load lock equipments, CVD/ PEVD equipment seal, Fabrication Units, Etching, Deposition and Implantation equipments.
Inflatable Seals for Aerospace and Defence
These custom made large fabric reinforced seals are designed with extreme temperature and moisture condition encountered in aerospace applications. Seals are made from Silicone and Flurosilicone for high durability and performance Some applications include Canopy of figter jets, Door Hanger seals, Passenger aircraft door seal, satellite transportation container seals.
Inflatable Seals for Marine Applications
Inflatable Seals for Marine applications have custom compounds of EPDM and Neoprene keeping in mind the highly Saline and Corrosive enviroment of the Sea. Inflatable Seals are made fo Hatches and Doors, Superyachts, propellor shafts, Sub sea equipments.
Inflatable Seals for Bulk Material Handling
Bulk Material Handling Inflatable seals have high abrasion resistance to increase performance and seal like especially for highly abrasive applications like Bulk Bag Filling and Drum Filling. Major OEMs have also started to switch from standard inflatable seals to Fabric Reinforced Seals longer cycle like reducing their equipment downtime .
Inflatable Seals for Critical Doors
Seperate Page ( nuclear power plant, Gas tight doors, Satellite Vibration testing facility, Jet Propulsion Lab Doors.
Inflatable Seals for Vaccuum Impregnation Equipments
Automotive and critical engineering castings need a specialised impregnation treatment to ensure no porosi ty or failure of the castings. These opertations are carried out in Vacuum conditions needing Inflatable Seals to ensure air tight sealing
Design Guidance
Design Guidance | Purpose |
|---|---|
Need More Details? Refer To The Blog | Need Design Guidance? Schedule a call with our expert |
Environment | Select rubber compatible with temperature and fluids in contact |
Expected Life | Choose between fabric or non-fabric seals based on durability needs |
Pressure Differential | Select fabric or non-fabric seals based on pressure conditions |
Inflation Gap | Choose the correct seal profile based on the required inflation gap |
Equipment Design | Determine corner radius (if applicable) and inflation type (Radial In/Out) |
Air Connector | Ensure easy installation and removal of the seal |
Retention Mechanism | Secure the seal to prevent displacement during operation |
Safety Systems | Prevent over-pressurization to avoid seal failure |
Types of Rubber for Inflatable Seals
MAterial | Temperature Range | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
EPDM | -50°C to 150°C | Excellent aging, ozone, weather resistance; Flexible at low temperatures | Poor resistance to petroleum oils, acids, and bases |
Neoprene | -40°C to 125°C | Good weather and ozone resistance; Moderate oil resistance; Flame
resistant | Not suitable for strong acids, esters, or gasoline |
NBR | -40°C to 120°C | High resistance to oils and fuels; Good abrasion resistance | Poor resistance to ozone, sunlight, and weathering |
HNBR | -40°C to 165°C | Exceptional oil/fuel resistance; Superior mechanical properties | Higher cost; Limited resistance to strong acids and bases |
Natural Rubber (NR) | -50°C to 80°C | High resilience, flexibility; Good adhesion to metals | Poor resistance to oils, ozone, weathering; Limited
temperature stability |
Silicone (MVQ) | -60°C to 230°C | Excellent temperature resistance; Good weather and UV resistance | Poor resistance to oils, acids; Lower tensile strength |
Fluorosilicone (FVMQ) | -60°C to 200°C | Excellent resistance to oils and solvents; Wide temperature range | Higher cost; Lower mechanical properties than silicone |
FKM (Viton) | -20°C to 200°C | Superior chemical resistance; Excellent high-temp stability | Poor low-temperature performance; Higher cost |
Ask Me
Frequently Asked Questions
01. What are the types of inflatable seals?
Inflating Radially Inward Seals:
Seals that inflate in the direction of the radius i.e. towards the center
Inflating Radially Outward Seals:
Seals that inflate in the direction of the circumference i.e. away from the center
Inflating Face Seals:
Seals that inflate perpendicular to the seating surface.
02. What is the ideal pressure required for operating inflatable seals?
1-3 Bar pressure is sufficient for sealing in majority of the inflatable seal sections. Sometimes under critical circumstances seals may be required to withstand higher pressures. These high-pressure seals have to be specially designed and engineered to withstand the pressure. Western Rubbers has designed seals that can withstand pressures up to 30 Bar.
03. Do I need a fabric reinforced seal?
Generally, for nominal pressure applications we suggest customers to avoid fabric reinforced seals so as to avoid high costs. But if your design pressure requirements are higher than 7-8 Bar then we suggest customers to go for fabric reinforced seals for longer life and effective functionality.
04. What types of fabric reinforcement are available for inflatable seals?
We use Kevlar, Nylon, Nomex, Polypropylene and Dacron.
05. Does my inflatable seal require continuous air supply?
We can manufacture both kinds of inflatable seals; ones which require continuous air supply or
those seals which can work with a one-time fill, like a tire tube.
06. What is the maximum temperature inflatable seals can withstand?
We can manufacture inflatable seals that can withstand temperatures up to 250 degrees (use symbol) Celsius (480 degrees F).
07. What is the maximum pressure inflatable seals can withstand?
Western Rubbers can manufacture seals that can withstand pressures up to 30 Bar.
08. What types of rubbers can be used for manufacturing inflatable seals?
EPDM, Viton, Neoprene, Silicone, Nitrile and Natural rubber can be used for manufacturing
inflatable seals.
09. What should be ideal inflation gap?
For longer life of the inflatable seal, the inflation gap between the striking surface of the seal and the mating surface should be between 5-8 mm.
10. Do we provide design, development and deployment services?
Yes, we assist clients right from the designing stage to the testing and installation stage of the inflatable seal.
11. Do we manufacture FDA compliant seals?
Yes, we manufacture FDA compliant inflatable seals. Our seals pass the stringent tests of US FDA and EU pharmacopoeia. We also provide all major food and pharmaceutical grade certifications on request.
12. What test reports do we provide with our inflatable seals?
We provide Mullen burst test report, underwater leak test report, compound report and
cycle test report (on request).
