Elasto Proxy is finishing our eleventh year of blogging with a look back at our most-viewed content of 2022. Whether you’re new to the blog or have read all 537 previous posts, we think you’ll want to know what resonated with your peers.
Some of 2022’s Top 10 blogs were written this year, but others were posted in previous years. That proves the power of quality content and the value it provides to engineering, purchasing, operations, and C-suite personnel alike.
Let’s take a look at the hottest topics of 2022 in terms of total views.
#1 ASTM D2000 Specifications for Rubber Materials
ASTM D2000 is an industry specification that gives buyers and suppliers a standard way to describe rubber. That’s important because it’s not enough to ask for “black rubber” or even a specific compound such as EPDM or silicone. With its lettered and numbered designations, ASTM D2000 calls-out physical properties, units of measure, and more.
#2 ICE Vehicles vs. Electric Vehicles
ICE vehicles ignite and combust fuel within an internal combustion engine (ICE). Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by electricity from a rechargeable battery instead. These are well-known and important differences, but ICE vehicles and EVs also share many components in common. These parts include seals, gaskets, thermal and acoustic insulation, and EMI shielding.
#3 Gasket Compression Explained
Gasket compression can support enclosure sealing or contribute to seal failure. That’s because rubber gaskets are resilient, but only to a point. Compressing a rubber gasket within allowable limits forms a reliable seal. Conversely, a gasket that compresses too much or too little will not form a proper seal. The ideal compression percentage is 40, the maximum is 50, and the minimum is between 10 to 15.
#4 Nitrile vs. Neoprene: What’s the Difference
Nitrile and neoprene are materials with similar properties but some important differences. Both elastomers provide good resistance to compression set and tearing. They withstand the same range of service temperatures, too. Some grades of neoprene offer excellent resistance to abrasion, but nitrile is known for its abrasion resistance at elevated temperatures.
#5 Physical Properties of Rubber: What Engineers Need to Know
When designing custom seals, gaskets, or insulation, engineers need to know whether an elastomer’s physical properties can meet the application’s requirements. These properties include hardness, tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation, resilience, compression set, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, and specific gravity. This article provides a high-level look at each property and how it’s measured.
#6 Gasket Design Guide: Five Things You Need to Know
Elasto Proxy’s Gasket Design Guide provides an overview of five things that engineers need to know when designing sealing solutions: 1) size of the gap, 2) shape of the profile, 3) hardness, or durometer 4) compound selection, and 5) fastening methods. By following this advice, you can design rubber gaskets that meet all of your requirements.
#7 Silicone Shortage: Causes and Solutions
The silicone shortage isn’t just about stock-outs and slow deliveries of raw materials and finished goods. The problems begin farther down the supply chain. Unfortunately, all of these disruptions are occurring at the same time there is increased demand for silicone elastomers. If you can forecast your demand and share that forecast with Elasto Proxy, you’re on your way to finding a potential solution.
#8 Foam Rubber vs. Sponge Rubber: What’s the Difference
The difference between foam rubber vs. sponge rubber begins with ingredients, continues through the material production process, and extends to molecular structure. Although the terms “foam rubber” and “sponge rubber” are sometimes used interchangeably, these elastomers have differences that may not be readily apparent. They’re also used in different types of sealing and insulation applications.
#9 Locking Gasket Guide: Window Gasket Selection and Installation
Locking gaskets are lengths of rubber that lock into place to provide a secure seal between stationary glass and a body panel. They can be self-locking or have a key. Window gaskets that are too small won’t fit over the glass but forcing them into place can cause the glass to break. This guide explains how to select the right rubber window channels and describes best practices for installing them.
#10 Rubber and Plastic Truck Parts
Rubber and plastic truck parts are used in the front end of tractor trailers as well as in the engine compartment and the cabin. These components seal out wind and weather, convey fluids and fuel, and help support larger assemblies. Elasto Proxy custom-fabricates seals, gaskets, and insulation, and can supply you with molded rubber and plastic parts so that you can simplify your supply chain.
How Can We Help You in 2023?
Elasto Proxy is a custom fabricator and distributor that specializes in low-to-medium volumes of rubber and plastic products such as seals, gaskets, and insulation. We also supply molded rubber parts such as silicone hose connectors, molded plastic parts such as the pedal pads on hospital pads, and rubber-to-metal bonded assemblies such as anti-vibration mounts.
Although it’s impossible to predict what 2023 will hold, Elasto Proxy knows one thing for sure. We look forward to continuing to serve you and to helping you meet your business and technical needs. We also invite you to continue reading our blog and help us celebrate our 550th blog entry in the first quarter of 2023.
See you next year!
