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Did you know that there are more than 1 billion types of microbe on the earth? These microorganisms are everywhere and scientists have not yet even discovered and cataloged most of them.
Because of their prevalence, keeping microbes out of clean areas is a full-time job. Many businesses use hermetic seal technology to do this.
This is actually only one of the many uses of hermetic seals. Almost every industry in the world creates or interacts with them on a daily basis.
Could your company benefit from using them? Why not read on to find out more.
General Usage
If there was one industry that needed to protect its products from microbes, it would be the food industry. Hermetic sealing is used to protect foods from the air outside. This air may contain undesirable microbes, or just cause the food to spoil prematurely.
Companies often employ types of hermetic sealing to extend the shelf life of a product. If you can prevent it from spoiling then you can ship it long distances and leave it in storage for longer. Hence, companies have been busy inventing more and more ingenious ways to seal their products.
Hermetic sealing is also used to protect people from microbes too. Some government vehicles are hermetically sealed to protect against biological weapons.
Creating the Perfect Hermetic Seal
Many engineering industries employ hermetic sealing to protect environments that have a vacuum. Others use them to ensure the transmission of energy such as electricity.
If you need a hermetic seal for your product, you should ensure that you select the correct materials. Plastic seals are very common, however, if your product will get very hot it would not be a suitable material.
If you want to find out more from a professional hermetic seal company, why not click right here.
What types of seals do engineering companies use?
Glass-To-Glass Seals
This is one of the most common hermetic sealing techniques. Although glass is a very fragile material, it is possible to build a very strong and effective hermetic seal between two glass surfaces.
Generally, you need to add at least 5 layers to create an effective seal. This is because of the effect of thermal expansion upon the joint.
Manufacturers will often use this type of seal in flat windows glass envelopes and glass tube components. Because of this you most frequently find them as parts of electronic components.
Glass-To-Metal Seals
Generally, it is easier to seal surfaces of the same materials hermetically. However, hermetically sealed glass and metal products are found in almost every house in the world. Probably the most famous example of glass to metal seal is the common lightbulb.
Glass-to-metal seals are famous for their strength. However, they also have other important characteristics.
The glass-to-metal seal acts as an electrical conductor. This adds an extra layer of defense against dust particles and microbes. This type of seal is common in vacuum tubes and pressure-tight windows with metallic components.
Specifically, there are two types of glass-to-metal seal. The first is a matched seal that has a bond made from glass and metal oxide. These are common bonds however they are not able to stand high-pressure fluctuations.
The second type is the compression seal which combines steel packaging in the joint to provide further strength. The additional steel adds greater endurance to the seal.
Ceramic-To-Metal Seals
If you want to use a hermetic sealing system to bond materials that will reach very high temperatures, then ceramic-to-metal seals may be for you. While it is more time-consuming and very expensive, you can achieve a seal that will endure very high temperatures and high voltage.
You can create a ceramic-to-metal seal by running them through a furnace and them adding a metallic coating.
You will likely see these seals in the automotive, medical, and aerospace fields. This is because of the high pressures and extreme environments that they can exist in.
These fields include the construction of missiles and other weapons technology. In these cases, the transmission of electrical currents without a flaw is a high priority.
Ceramic-To-Glass Seals
Sometimes you need a seal that can handle extremely high levels of electricity. This could be for signal transmission devices or some types of motors.
Ceramic-to-glass seals, although amongst the most expensive of seals, are ideal for this situation. They can handle high stress, high temperature, and high voltages. Experts say that they can handle up to 3000 volts of static electricity.
The uses of ceramic-to-glass seals are very broad. In some cases, medical implant devices require biocompatibility and exceptional resistance to corrosion. Ceramic-based seals can provide this.
Epoxy Seals
Epoxy and plastics are ideal for those who want a highly flexible seal. However, they do not provide protection from extreme environments. Epoxy seals can bond with a high number of materials including metals such as copper and brass.
The highly flexible nature of epoxy seals makes them ideal for use in items such as cables. They are able to achieve a high rate of protection and hermetic sealing. However, they flex easily which grants them the durability to be used inflexible cables.
Laser Hermetic Sealing
Technicians often apply hermetic seals using tiny bonds that require precision work. They are more and more choosing to use lasers to accomplish this work.
This requires careful calculation to ensure that the distance between the laser and the surface remains consistent throughout the procedure. Any changes in angle could affect the quality of the hermetic seal. Laser sealing bonds surfaces efficiently and accurately.
All the Benefits of Hermetic Seal Technology and Much More
Companies all over the world use hermetic seal technology to incredible effect. Do you see applications for it in your business? The principles that we have discussed today will help you decide whether they would provide benefits for your workplace.
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