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All You Need To Know About Food Grade O-Rings

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All You Need To Know About Food Grade O-Rings

O-rings are used in a wide array of sectors ranging from manufacturing, engineering, and even the food and beverage industry. These torus-shaped rings are chiefly used to create a leak-proof seal that prevents seepage of liquids and gases. The rings are usually made using an elastomer that is essentially squeezed between two distinct components, forming a leak-proof seal. Depending upon the industry or the specific application, the tensile strength and structure of the O-ring vary.


What Are Food Grade O-Rings?


O-rings are used in valves, pumps, and cylinders. They can be both static as well as dynamic. When used in the food and beverage industry, the quality of the material used becomes of prime importance. The rings used in these sectors need to be resistant to bacterial buildup over time. To prevent the risk of health hazards in manufacturing of food and beverages, the O-rings used should be of the appropriate grade. For this purpose, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published certain guidelines that need to be met while manufacturing O-rings that come in direct contact with food and beverages. The rings that meet these criteria are commonly known as FDA-grade, FDA-certified, or FDA-compliant.


Criteria For FDA-Grade O-Ring:


FDA-grade rings are those that meet the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR21. 177.2600). This includes the following specifications in regard to:


·        Dry Foods: O-rings used in the dry food industry should be such that they meet the necessary criteria for good manufacturing practices and shall be made of rubber that is intended for repeated use.

·        Liquids: These rings should meet the extraction criteria, that is, they must not exceed 20 mg/sq. an inch of distilled water.

·        Fatty Foods: The rings that come in contact with fatty foods should meet additional extraction criteria. In this case, extraction shall not exceed 175 mg/sq. inch in n-hexane.

Additionally, the following basic parameters are also to be met for manufacturing food-grade rubber O-rings.

·        The material used should ideally be non-toxic, non-marking as well as non-allergenic.

·     The material of the ring should be highly resistant to microbe buildup, fungal attacks as well as bacterial growth.

·        It should be able to retain its texture and integrity across a wide range of temperatures.

·        They should remain unaffected by a wide range of pressure and other harsh conditions.


Materials Used For Manufacturing FDA-Compliant O-Rings:


· EPDM: EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber) is a polymer that can withstand a wide range of temperatures from -400C to 1100C.

· Nitrile: Butadiene Acrylonitrile, popularly known as Nitrile rubber is widely used in dairy and egg processing factories. It retains its flexibility through multiple heating and cooling cycles. Temperature range: -320C to 1040C

· Silicone: It is chemically inert, odorless, and can resist discoloration. Temperature range:

-550C to 2320C

· Fluorocarbon: This elastomer resists ozone attack and is inert to harsh chemicals. O-rings manufactured using this material are commonly called Viton O-Rings. Temperature range: -260C to 2300C

The industry requirements dictate the kind of O-ring that is to be used. However, it is advisable to thoroughly research the specific application before purchasing these products. It is always prudent to purchase such rings from a reputed manufacturer for ensuring that they meet the specifications that it has claimed.

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