As much of the United States continues to deal with winter weather, we are reminded that there’s cold and really cold. At Smart Products USA, we work with many customers with application requirements that must operate in frigid temperatures. From our years of experience, we are able to recommend plastic and o-ring materials with characteristics able to withstand these extreme conditions.
All Smart Products USA check/pressure relief valves feature customizable components. More specifically, we have 9+ plastic body materials and 7+ o-ring materials to meet a wide variety of device requirements. Our vast knowledge of each material helps advise customers on the ideal components for their unique application’s needs.
For plastics, cold environments can often make them brittle – they will still work, but their tensile strength is affected by this condition. Thus, we often recommend valves in Acrylic because it is known to be a very strong material with a good tensile strength. Additionally, Acrylic goes as low as -76°F. Another plastic recommendation for cold temperatures is ABS, which will go as low as -4°F.
Paired with either of the above materials, any of our o-ring options work in negative temperatures. We typically recommend Silicone or EPDM for ultra-cold environments, but a more specific suggestion on all materials will depend on application requirements. Keep in mind, o-rings become stiff in cold temperatures and may not seal as well, which could affect the valve’s performance. Silicone is an o-ring material we most recommend due to its excellent rating for sealing versus other o-ring materials. This particular material seals best because its compounds are very soft and will seat better with poppets and/or external bodies. Silicone o-rings have a minimum temperature around -65°F. EPDM is also a popular o-ring material for cold conditions, and it has a minimum temperature around -60°F.
Please note, the above information is a general recommendation of materials we have seen be successful with low temperature environments. As always, Smart Products USA strongly advises that customers test products for each application-specific use. To ensure we create the right valve for your device, it is important to communicate any liquids/gasses used, application environment, and intended shelf life with a Product & Application Specialist.
