Selecting The Best Sealing Material For Food Grade Applications

Selecting The Best Sealing Material For Food Grade Applications

Seals are very important in most industries. Different seals are made from different materials. However, when it comes to sealing material of food industries, a lot of care has to be taken to ensure the safety of the food being produced. Some materials used to make seals are poisonous if they react with some chemicals or are exposed to certain conditions. bonded seals from bonded seal suppliers are versatile and can be applied in food applications.

Let’s look at the factors to consider when selecting the best sealing material for food application.

Odourless and tasteless: Seals for food production application should not have any taste or smell. The presence of the two will lower the quality of the product by adding unnecessary smell and taste.

Resistance to bacteria build-up: Some fluids and particles may penetrate the seals and rot if left uncleaned during food production. The rotted particles cause bacteria infestation, which will eventually cause contamination. A good sealing material for food application should be bacterial resistance.

Resistance to a wide range of temperatures: Different food products are produced under different temperatures. A seal material that can withstand this temperature is the best.

Chemical compatibility: There are various chemicals used in food applications. These seal materials produce toxic substances because they react with these chemicals. To safely ensure you choose a chemical-resistant material. Metal wiper seals from wiper seal suppliers are a good example of a chemical resistance seal used in hydraulic parts.

No-toxic and non-allergic: The main aim is to ensure food production that will not be harmful when consumed. Select seals that are made with non-toxic material. Additionally, some materials can cause allergic reactions to the body; they should also be avoided.

Best FDA-approved sealing materials

Nitrile (Buna-N): It is an excellent sealing material for the food and beverage industry. It is also resistant to petroleum-based oils, silicone greases, hydraulic fluids, and alcoholic beverages. Nitrile has high tensile strength, low compression, and high abrasion resistance, among other properties. Bonded seal suppliers supply seals made from this material. 

EPDM: This is a suitable sealing material because it has no smell or taste and is made from inert components. EPDM also has a wide temperature range and is resistant to acids and chemicals.

Silicone: This is a popular choice for food and medical applications because of its strong chemical resistance and wide operating temperature range for elastomers. Silicone is also a non-toxic material. 

Viton/FKM: It can withstand higher processing temperatures for longer exposure times. There is very little extraction because the materials are blended to prevent contamination of food or fluids. Because of its lower friction surface, it is suitable for various applications. Most metal wiper seals are made of Viton.

Conclusion

In food applications, sealing materials are very crucial because they can affect the quality of the product. To meet various healthy standards ensure the seals you buy from seal suppliers are FDA authorized. Using toxic seal material in the food industry or application can put the entire population at risk of food poisoning.