Do you operate in the transport industry? Inflatable seals can be crucial to building several safety mechanisms of vehicles. With the recent introduction of faster and advanced cars, automakers are feeling the need to incorporate inflatable seals. In this blog, we have discussed how inflatable seals are being used in the transportation industry, improving overall safety and performance.
Inflatable seals are a crucial industrial component made from silicone rubbers. These seals are used to plan a solution for sealing any kind of gap or surface from external dust and contamination. Inflatable seals are highly appreciated for industrial use because over 90% of the inflatable seals can successfully seal surfaces and can withstand pressure up to two bars. In the transportation industry, the inflatable seals have played a crucial role in filling both structural and shape gaps.
How Do Inflatable Seals Matter in Transportation?
In transportation manufacturing, inflatable seals play an important role in improving passenger safety. Inflatable bladder products are used in making fabric-made inflatable seals. There are some key features of inflatable seals that are used in the transportation industry.
- One of the key characteristics of inflatable seals is their flexibility and adjustability, considering their application.
- The sealing capacity of the inflatable seal can tightly fit within the surface and restrict the contaminants from entering.
- Inflatable seals can be effectively personalized depending on the style and size. This flexibility plays an instrumental role in delicate applications.
For example, locomotive manufacturers use these inflatable seals to seal in the doors and windows of trains. Moreover, the vehicle seats consist of a chamber, which is an inflatable bladder product.
Conventional seals can break due to surface vibration and thermal expansion. Inflatable seals provide adaptive sealing. Moreover, inflatable seals are ever effective on constantly moving surfaces.
Here is a tabular presentation of how inflatable seals matter in different transportation modes, addressing specific issues.
| Transportation Mode | Problems | Inflatable Seal Benefit |
| Railways | Dust/Water Ingress | Sealing in the Passenger Doors |
| Aviation Methods | Change in the air pressure | Making the cockpit and cargo compartment airtight. |
| Automotive | Excessive noise and heat | Customizable gaskets for EVs and Hybrid car models |
| Marine Transports | Hatch sealing | Resistance to saltwater and compression. |
Table 1: How Inflatable seals can be used in the transportation sector and address the critical issues
What Are the Benefits of Inflatable Seals Over Traditional Seals?
Unlike traditional seals, inflatable seals provide multiple edges and an improved tolerance. Here are some key advantages that show why inflatable seals are better than traditional seals.
Works on Uneven Surfaces
Traditional seals only work on surfaces that are smooth and even. However, inflatable seals can work on uneven surfaces because of the capacity for inflation that helps to fill all the gaps.
No Significant Issue Caused by Compression Set
The compression set is the measurement that shows the amount of deformity in the material made by inflatable bladder products. While regular seals often start to show deformities over time, inflatable seals stay resilient and last longer.
Leak Proof
Traditional seals underperform while the differential pressure is high, and eventually, it causes leakage. Inflatable seals, contrarily, guarantee no leakage and can handle high differential pressure up to 20 bars.
How Can Inflatable Seals Be Customized?
Inflatable seals are customised on the basis of their application. For example, in the marine transportation industry, inflatable seals are manufactured to be highly resistant to heat. To be specific, the cockpit and cabin doors require inflatable seals that can withstand different air pressures.
Engineers can customize inflatable seals to give them different shapes and sizes, so that they can be fitted into complex surfaces. Different types of raw materials are key to producing several types of seals.
| Materials Used in Manufacturing Inflatable Seals | How They Contribute to Customization |
| Silicone | Provides resistance to high temperatures |
| EPDM | Restricts Ozone and UV light exposure. |
| Viton | Stops exposure to chemicals. Effective in the production of inflatable seals used in marine transportation. |
Table 2: Types of Customization in Manufacturing Inflatable Seals
Final Words
Design considerations for inflatable seals are very crucial, considering the application and specific requirements. In advanced transportation engineering, inflatable seals provide customizable sealing solutions and precise sealing across different sectors. These materials can handle pressure, motion, and heat. It has a stable demand across industries, and vehicle manufacturers prefer to use these sealings.
Consider Using Inflatable Seals in Transportation Engineering!
Looking for ideal sealing solutions? Consider using inflatable seals to bring out the best sealing and develop safety in industries like transportation. Explore the different range of inflatable sealing solutions to find out the best.