Grommets: Insulation, Protection, Sealing
Rubber grommets are essential components used to protect and insulate objects that pass through openings in metal, plastic, or other materials. They are commonly used to prevent wear and tear on cables, wires, and pipes, providing both mechanical protection and a secure seal. This guide covers the features, common applications, and the pros and cons of using rubber grommets in various industries.
CanRez® FFKM and Kalrez® grommets, O-rings, gasket rapid manufacturing, & custom molded parts are available now!
Check with one of Canyon’s helpful product engineers for an expert material and manufacturing recommendation.
Features of Rubber Grommets
Rubber grommets offer several key features that make them indispensable in a wide range of applications:
- Protection: Rubber grommets provide a protective barrier that prevents wires, cables, and pipes from being damaged by sharp edges or abrasion as they pass through openings.
- Insulation: These grommets offer electrical insulation, reducing the risk of electrical short circuits and ensuring the safety of wiring systems.
- Vibration Damping: Rubber grommets absorb vibrations, reducing noise and preventing damage to sensitive components in applications where movement or impact is a concern.
- Flexibility: Made from flexible rubber materials, grommets can accommodate various cable and pipe sizes while maintaining a secure fit.
- Weather Resistance: Many rubber grommets are designed to withstand exposure to environmental factors such as moisture, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring long-lasting performance in outdoor or harsh environments.
Common Applications of Rubber Grommets
Rubber grommets are used in a wide range of industries and applications due to their protective and insulating properties. Common applications include:
- Electrical Systems: Rubber grommets are widely used in electrical panels, junction boxes, and wiring systems to protect cables and wires from abrasion and to provide insulation.
- Automotive: In automotive applications, rubber grommets are used to protect wiring harnesses, fuel lines, and brake lines as they pass through metal components, reducing the risk of wear and damage.
- Manufacturing: Rubber grommets are employed in machinery and equipment to protect hoses, cables, and pipes from vibration, movement, and sharp edges.
- Aerospace: In aerospace applications, rubber grommets provide protection and insulation for critical wiring and hydraulic lines, ensuring reliable performance in demanding conditions.
- Home Appliances: Rubber grommets are used in home appliances, such as washing machines and refrigerators, to protect electrical wiring and reduce noise and vibration.
Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
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Grommet Materials
CanRez™ FFKM Perfluoroelastomer
Extreme temperatures & chemicals require extreme solutions! CanRez™ FFKM grommets offer extreme reliability where you need it most! Thousands of sizes in stock now!
CanGuard™ RFI & EMI Shielding Materials
CanGuard™ grommet materials have been developed to offer superior sealing solutions with enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding.
Kalrez® FFKM Perfluoroelastomer
Canyon Components offers Kalrez® Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts at competitive prices and with great lead-times.
Parker® Grommets, O-rings, Parofluor parts, parker FKM Viton
Canyon Components offers Parker Hannifin® grommets, O-rings, Gaskets, Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) parts, & custom molded parts at competitive prices and with great lead-times.
FKM (Viton®, Fluorocarbon)
FKM compounds, grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts exhibit excellent mechanical attributes as well as excellent resistance to high temperatures, mineral oil, ozone, fuels, hydraulic fluids, and many other solvents and chemicals.
Aflas® (TFE/P)
TFE/P (Aflas) grommets, compounds, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts gives high resistance to steam, hot water, atmospheric wear, and many chemicals. TFE/P compounds provide superior performance in water, steam and virtually all caustic chemicals.
Fluorosilicone (FVMQ)
The mechanical and physical properties of Fluorosilicone grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are very similar to silicone. Fluorosilicone O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts offer improved flexibility and strength, better resistance to fuels and mineral oil, but reduced hot air resistance.
Silicone (VMQ, PVMQ)
Silicone grommets, seals, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are excellent for extreme temperatures in static applications. Canyon Components carries a range of silicone materials, and we are happy to custom tailor a seal to meet your application requirements!
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene)
EPDM grommets, materials, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts can operate over a wide temperature range, and are compatible with glycol fluids that cause problems for most typical elastomeric seals.
NBR (Nitrile, Buna-N)
Nitrile grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are very oil-resistant, have strong mechanical properties, are resistant to wear, and are relatively inexpensive. These properties make Nitrile the most commonly used general purpose O-ring, gasket, & custom molded part material.
HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile)
Hydrogenated Nitrile grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts offer higher strength and reduced degradation at high temperatures compared to conventional Nitrile materials. These properties make HNBR materials popular in the oil and gas industry, as well as many applications in the chemical industry.
XNBR (Carboxylated Nitrile)
XNBR grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are similar to Nitrile, but the backbone has been chemically modified with a Carboxylic Acid group. The resulting elastomer is a Nitrile rubber with outstanding abrasion and chemical resistance, superior to that of traditional Nitrile.
Neoprene (CR)
Chloroprene was the first synthetic rubber, and was developed commercially under the name Neoprene®. Chloroprene grommets, rubbers, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts contain Chlorine in the polymer to reduce the reactivity to many oxidizing agents, as well as to oil and flame.
Polyurethane (PU, AU)
Polyurethane grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts generally have two or three times greater tensile strength and wear resistance than Nitrile and comparable polymers. Polyurethane also provides excellent permeation resistance when compared to most rubbers.
PTFE (Teflon)
The harshest environments require specialized solutions. Often times, a Canyon Components PTFE grommets are used in harsh chemical environments. Polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as PTFE or Teflon®, is a high-performance fluoropolymer known for its exceptional chemical resistance, low friction, and non-stick properties.
Product Types
Custom Parts
Here at Canyon Components, we make sure to offer our customers any manufacturing technique they desire. Whether your grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts be rubber, plastic, or metal, rest assured that Canyon Components can make it!
Gaskets & Custom Cutting
Whether your custom cut parts be rubber, plastic, sponge, composite, or metal, rest assured that Canyon Components can make it! Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. If you need something that isn't listed, feel free to contact a Canyon Components product and application consultant.
Infinite "Giant" Diameter O-Rings
By either Continuous Molding O-rings, or Splice & Vulcanizing O-rings, Canyon can provide mold-less, infinitely large O-rings at competitive prices!
Specialty Compliances
Canyon have materials available for grommets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom parts with compliances ranging from USP Class VI <87> & <88> for medical applications, to FDA CFR 21.177.2600 grades A through F for different food types, to the various drinking water specifications like KTW and NSF. Whether it's metal, rubber, or plastic, Canyon can meet your needs!
Grommets Pros & Cons
Rubber grommets are versatile and cost-effective components that provide essential protection and insulation in a wide range of applications. From electrical systems to automotive and industrial machinery, rubber grommets help prevent damage to cables, wires, and pipes, enhancing safety and reliability. While they offer many advantages, including easy installation and durability, potential limitations such as material degradation and size constraints should be considered when selecting rubber grommets for specific applications. Understanding the features, applications, and potential drawbacks of rubber grommets will help you make informed decisions to ensure optimal performance in your systems.
Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. Feel free to contact Canyon Components engineering and let our knowledgeable staff help you design the perfect part for your needs.
Pros of Rubber Grommets
Rubber grommets offer several advantages that make them a preferred choice in many applications:
- Cost-Effective: Rubber grommets are relatively inexpensive and provide an affordable solution for protecting and insulating cables, wires, and pipes.
- Easy Installation: Grommets are designed for easy installation, often requiring no special tools. They can be quickly inserted into openings, providing an immediate protective barrier.
- Versatility: Available in various sizes, shapes, and materials, rubber grommets can be customized to meet specific application requirements.
- Durability: Rubber grommets are built to withstand repeated use, exposure to harsh environments, and mechanical stress, offering long-lasting protection.
- Enhanced Safety: By providing insulation and preventing abrasion, rubber grommets enhance the safety of electrical systems and other critical components.
Cons of Rubber Grommets
While rubber grommets offer many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:
- Limited Load-Bearing Capacity: Rubber grommets are not designed to support heavy loads or provide structural strength. In applications where load-bearing is required, additional reinforcement may be necessary.
- Material Degradation: Depending on the environmental conditions and the type of rubber used, grommets may degrade over time due to exposure to UV rays, chemicals, or extreme temperatures.
- Size Limitations: While rubber grommets are available in various sizes, there may be limitations in finding the exact size needed for certain specialized applications, which could require custom manufacturing.
- Compression Set: Over time, rubber grommets may experience compression set, where the material becomes permanently deformed under pressure, potentially reducing their effectiveness in sealing or protecting components.
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