Elasto Proxy, global supplier of custom seals and specialty insulation, announces bulb trim seals for weatherstripping and window rubber.
With offices in Canada, the U.S., and China, Elasto Proxy strengthens supply chains with on-time deliveries of high-value, low-to-medium volume rubber products. Applications include automotive, construction, mass transit, and mobile specialty vehicles.
Elasto Proxy also offers expert design and custom fabrication of bulb seals and trim seals for a wide range of industries. By applying their application knowledge and technical expertise, the company’s solutions providers can recommend rubber goods with the right characteristics. This includes materials of construction, dimensions, and other product specifications.
How to Choose Bulb Seals and Trim Seals
Bulb trim seals are dual durometer rubber seals with bulb and retainer sections. Typically, the bulb is made of a medium-density foam or sponge rubber such as EPDM. The retainer or trim portion is often made of another rubber material, such as PVC. Because of their design and materials of construction, bulb seals and trim seals offer resistance to water, ozone, sunlight, and a range of service temperatures.
Buyers of bulb trim seals need to consider specifications such as seal dimensions and weight, durometer and shape, and rubber compound. Depending upon the application and industry, parameters such as temperature range, flammability, and code compliance may be also important to consider. Although most bulb seals and trim seals are black, rubber products with different colors are available.
Bulb trim seals typically have A, B, C, D, and E measurements. Durometer, a measure of hardness, is given in duro. Bulb trim seals vary in terms of shape, and may feature the bulb portion of the seal in different locations. Bulbs also vary in size and have an inch-based inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD).
Strategies for Material Selection
Although some bulbs use 80-duro rubber, most feature medium-density EPDM. A synthetic rubber, EPDM is a closed-cell sponge material that resists moisture and withstands temperature extremes. This versatile, reliable compound also provides a relatively high degree of electrical insulation. Unlike many elastomers, EPDM also exhibits superior UV resistance, making it a good choice for outdoor applications.
Bulb trim seals are available in various types of thermoplastic rubber (TPR). Weather-resistant, reusable, and often recyclable, TPRs will repeatedly soften when heated and stiffen when cooled. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), which are sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers, are polymers that have both thermoplastic and rubber-like (elastomeric) properties.
Thermoplastic rubbers are more expensive than other compounds, but offer advantages over popular plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Flexible and pliable, TPE is less likely to break, especially in cold temperatures. Thermoplastic elastomers also offer good shape memory and lower thermal conductivity, an important consideration in some applications.
About Elasto Proxy
Elasto Proxy designs and custom fabricates specialty seals, thermal and acoustic insulation, vibration dampening products and materials, EMI shielding, and other high-quality rubber and plastic parts. By listening to all of your requirements and analyzing all of your needs, Elasto Proxy’s solutions providers can recommend sealing solutions that are right for your application.