Sustainable sealing solutions: For a more sustainable tomorrow.

In a world where sustainability is increasingly becoming a focus, companies across all industries are looking for ways to minimize their environmental impact. This applies not only to large-scale production processes, but also to inconspicuous components such as sealing solutions. Sustainable seals offer a way to reconcile environmental considerations with economic and technical requirements.

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What are sustainable sealing solutions?

Our sustainable sealing solutions go beyond pure functionality and consider the entire life cycle of a product – from raw material extraction through production and application to disposal or recycling. At their core, they aim to reduce negative environmental impacts while ensuring high performance. This can be achieved in several ways:

• Use of environmentally friendly materials: These include recycled materials, bio-based plastics, renewable raw materials or elastomers with low pollutant content.

• Energy-efficient production processes: The production of sustainable seals should be carried out with minimal energy consumption and low emissions.

• Durability and ease of maintenance: Products with a long service life reduce the need for frequent replacement and thus reduce resource consumption. Easy maintenance also contributes to extending service life.

• Recyclability and reusability: Sustainable seals should ideally be able to be recycled or integrated into other material cycles at the end of their life cycle.

• Reduction of waste and emissions: Waste and harmful emissions should be minimized during both production and use.

• Circular economy: The goal is to keep materials and products in use for as long as possible to avoid the creation of waste.

  
  

Sustainable sealing solutions are therefore an important building block for companies that take their sustainability goals seriously and want to make a contribution to environmental protection.

Thermal, mechanical and acoustic properties of sustainable seals

Sustainability by no means means a compromise on the technical properties of seals. Modern sustainable solutions can easily match or even exceed conventional materials in terms of thermal, mechanical, and acoustic properties.

Thermal properties:

• Temperature resistance: Sustainable elastomers such as special silicones or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) can be used in a wide temperature range, from extremely low to very high temperatures. The material is selected specifically according to the requirements of the respective application.

• Thermal conductivity: Depending on the application, low or high thermal conductivity may be desired. Sustainable sealing materials can be formulated to exhibit the desired thermal properties. For example, thermally conductive plastics or elastomers can be used for heat dissipation in electronic applications.

• Insulation: In many cases, good thermal insulation is an important function of seals to prevent energy loss. Sustainable materials such as certain foams or special cellular rubber grades offer excellent insulation properties.

  
  

Mechanical properties:

• Compression set: Low compression set is crucial for long-lasting sealing. Modern, sustainable elastomers often exhibit very good values in this area, thus ensuring long-term functionality.

• Tensile strength and elongation at break: Depending on the load, seals must exhibit a specific tensile strength and elongation at break. Here, too, sustainable materials offer a wide range of properties that can be tailored to specific requirements.

• Abrasion resistance: In applications involving movement or friction, high abrasion resistance is crucial for the service life of the seal. Sustainable TPE or special rubber compounds can achieve excellent results here.

• Elasticity and flexibility: Good elasticity and flexibility are important to compensate for unevenness and ensure reliable sealing. Sustainable elastomers offer a wide range of hardness levels and resilience properties.

  
  

Acoustic properties:

• Sound insulation: In many areas, such as construction or vehicles, the acoustic properties of seals play an important role. Sustainable materials such as special foams or heavy elastomers can help reduce noise transmission.

• Vibration dampening: Seals can also be used to dampen vibrations to minimize noise and extend component life. Sustainable elastomers with good dampening properties offer an environmentally friendly alternative.

  
  

It's important to emphasize that the specific properties of a sustainable sealing solution depend heavily on the chosen material and design. Careful selection and adaptation to specific requirements is therefore essential.

Frequently used industries for sustainable sealing solutions

Demand for sustainable sealing solutions is growing across numerous industries as companies increasingly embrace their environmental responsibilities while benefiting from potential cost savings and a positive image. Some of the most common applications include:

• Construction: Sustainable seals play an important role in the energy efficiency of buildings. They are used in windows, doors, and facades to minimize heat loss and thus reduce heating and cooling requirements. They can also contribute to sound insulation and are made from recycled or recyclable materials.

• Automotive industry: The automotive industry is under great pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Sustainable sealing solutions, such as those made from recycled plastics or bio-based elastomers, are used in various areas such as engine seals, door and window seals, and seals for fluid systems.

• Renewable energies: The wind energy and solar industries require robust and durable seals that can withstand extreme weather conditions. Sustainable materials that offer a long service life and are recyclable are particularly in demand here.

• Food and beverage industry: In this sector, hygiene and material safety are of utmost importance. Sustainable sealing solutions made from food-safe and recyclable plastics or elastomers offer an environmentally friendly alternative.

• Medical technology: Sustainability is also gaining importance in medical technology. Seals made of biocompatible and sterilizable materials that can be manufactured and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner are of interest here.

• Mechanical and plant engineering: In this broad field, seals are used in a wide variety of applications. Sustainable solutions that offer long service life, energy efficiency, and good recyclability can make a significant contribution to reducing the ecological footprint.

  
  

These examples show that sustainable sealing solutions can play a role in almost all industrial sectors and are an important factor for more environmentally friendly production and products.

Discover Rexio's diverse sealing solutions, tailored to your individual requirements. Visit our product section to learn more about our range of silicone profiles, TPE profiles , edge protection, and other seals. Here you can view detailed product information, submit a specific inquiry, or request a personalized consultation: Video consultation

Conclusion

Sustainable sealing solutions are an important building block for companies that take their environmental responsibility seriously while also seeking to benefit from the technical and economic advantages. Through the use of environmentally friendly materials, energy-efficient production processes, and a focus on durability and recyclability, they offer a future-proof alternative to conventional seals. The growing demand in numerous industries demonstrates that sustainability is no longer a niche topic, but a crucial factor for the long-term success of companies.