Ask the Experts: How Can Compression Set Cause a Seal to Fail?
Sometimes an elastomeric material fails to return to its original size after release from a constant compressive load. The amount of material that fails to return to its original size is called a compression set. This type of failure is common to both static and dynamic seals. Compression set failure produces flat surfaces on both sides of the O-ring’s cross-section, which reduces its sealing potential.
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