Fabric reinforced inflatable seals

Non-reinforced inflatable seals are homogenized seals manufactured only from rubber without any reinforcement but having thicker wall sections. These inflatable seals can be used for a variety of applications where sealing two surfaces that move in relation to each other is required. By introducing a medium such as air or fluid, the seal will expand at a specified rate until a determined size is achieved. The rates and sizes of expansion of an inflatable seal are determined by its shape (Figure 3.8). Nearly all inflatable seals, reinforced or non-reinforced, are custom fabricated for a specific application. 

A fabric reinforced seal is a completely molded seal that is built with the same operating principles as a homogeneous inflatable seal. The addition of fabric helps increase the amount of internal pressure under which the seal can operate, where higher pressures are required in a non-enclosed environment (Figure 3.3). 

Depending on the conditions that the seal will encounter, we can use nearly any fabric available to reinforce an inflatable seal. Some fabrics used will have limitations in the thickness that can be applied within the part, and what temperatures they can withstand during operation. The following are some of the fabrics used ... 

Fabric reinforced seals are still prone to over - pressurization and can fail if not properly used. These seals can also fail if they are cut, or if a hole is poked into the side wall of the inflatable cross-section. 

Rubber sheets are the most important materials for the construction and fabrication of much chemical plant equipment such as storage tanks, reactor vessels, pipelines, seals, hoses and rubber lined mild steel equipment of different sizes and shapes, inflatables, etc., and almost all equipment subjected to different corrosive environments. The rubber sheets can be either plain or fabrics coated with rubber. The fabrics used for coating are nylon, rayon, cotton or various other synthetics. Rubberized fabric cords are also used as reinforcing members in various products. 

---