Part Buyers Authority Issue #5

Hermetic seals have been around for centuries, and they continue to evolve with technology and innovation. Hermetic seals used in manufacturing can be applied to many different industries; in fact, you probably come across hermetic seals in your day-to-day life. These seals allow currents or signals to be transferred between two separate environments. The transfers are made without interruptions from moisture, gases, or other particles leaking. If any leakage occurs, they can wreak havoc on one or both environments. And, in some cases, any dust or other small particles passing through can cause explosions. By using hermetic seals, the risk for damages is minimized; hence, the need for a reliable hermetic seal. So, what exactly do hermetic seals actually do? Hermetic seals: • Provide a passage of currents or signals through two environments • Prevent leaks (solids, liquids, and gases) • Come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and purposes • Can be standardized stock products or custom products Hermetic seals do not: • Seal 100% perfectly - leak rates are miniscule, but not zero • Withstand all temperatures, pressures, or all extreme environments – even the highest quality hermetic seals have limitations TYPES OF HERMETIC SEALS Types of seals have evolved over time and will likely continue to evolve with technology. For example, fiber optic technologies are relatively recent; thus, the need for hermetic fiber optic seals is also recent. Hermetic seals are not limited to present technologies. New hermetic seals are created all the time, and they can be created to meet new challenges. Hermetic seals come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials, and the seals can be used in a multitude of industries. Some types of hermetic seals include (but are not limited to!): • Connector Feedthroughs (any commercial, military, or custom connector) • Wire Feedthroughs • Multi-Conductor Cable Seals • Fiber Optic Seals • High Current Feedthroughs • Explosion Proof Seals Seals can be as small as a couple of millimeters, or as big as several meters. The size of the seal depends on the type, material, and use. Plus, seals can be made using epoxy, glass, or ceramic. All of these manufacturing options allow for hermetic seals to be versatile and widely used across industries. Epoxy seals are the newest type of hermetic seal, and epoxy offers certain benefits over ceramic or glass seals. • Epoxy seals are usually lighter than glass or ceramic • Lead time is shorter • Tooling for epoxy seals is simpler • Epoxies are often less expensive INDUSTRIES Each seal serves a different purpose and can be used in different industries. The industries are as broad as types of seals, and new industries discover a need for hermetic seals all the time. • Marine: Hermetic seals in the marine industry must withstand many environments. Seals may be required to pass information through two differently pressurized environments, two different temperatures, or even one liquid and one gaseous environment. MARK NUTTBROCK President RELIABLE HERMETIC SEALS, LLC 10 PART BUYERS A U T H R I T Y