Product Overview — Food Grade O-Rings
Food grade O-rings provide hygienic, regulatory-compliant sealing for pumps, valves, sight glasses, mixers, fillers and processing equipment. We stock standard AS568 sizes and supply custom molded rings in food-contact compounds that meet the industry extraction and compositional limits defined by FDA 21 CFR 177.2600. For corrosive environments or aggressive cleaning cycles we also offer PTFE and FDA-grade FFKM options.
Common aliases / search terms
food-grade O-rings, O-rings food, FDA O-rings, sanitary O-rings, food contact O-ring, sanitary seals, food processing O-rings.
Materials & Typical Performance
A buyer-oriented summary to match compound to application (high-value commercial guidance):
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Silicone (VMQ) — best for high-temperature exposure, steam, low toxicity & excellent taste/odor neutrality; widely available in FDA-grade compounds (temperature range up to ≈ +232°C depending on formulation).
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EPDM — excellent for hot water, steam, detergents and many aqueous foods; commonly supplied as FDA-compliant EPDM for beverage and water contact parts.
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Nitrile / Buna-N (NBR) — strong choice where resistance to oils and fatty foods is required; FDA-grade Buna-N compounds are commonly used in food machinery.
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PTFE (Teflon®) — inert thermoplastic: best when chemical resistance and steam sterilization are required; suitable for aggressive washdowns and CIP cycles.
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FKM / FFKM — for higher temperature and certain chemical exposure; only select grades should be specified for food contact — verify grade and test reports.
Key Buyer Benefits / Why choose these O-rings
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Regulatory readiness — compounds available to meet the FDA framework for rubber articles intended for repeated use (21 CFR 177.2600).
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AS568 standard inventory — fast fulfillment from stocked AS568 sizes plus capacity for custom molded sizes.
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Cleanroom & traceable production — traceable batch records, optional MTRs and extraction testing on request.
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Material choice for environment — recommended compound selection by media type (aqueous, fatty, steam, chemical cleaning).
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Procurement-friendly packaging — labelled kits, bulk spools or individual sealed bags for sanitary storage.
Applications
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Food & beverage processing: pumps, rotary valves, homogenizers, fillers, CIP systems.
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Dairy & dairy processing equipment (milk lines, pasteurizers).
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Brewery & winery: fermenter lids, transfer pumps, sight glasses.
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Pharmaceutical non-sterile process equipment and secondary contact parts.
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Beverage dispensers, coffee machines, vending and packaging machinery.
Specifications & Technical Data
Selected material table
| Material | Temp (°F / °C) | Shore A | Strengths (why choose) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone (VMQ) | -67°F to +450°F (-55°C to +232°C) | 40–80 | Low odor/taste, steam & high-temp resistance. |
| EPDM | -40°F to +250°F (-40°C to +121°C) | 60–80 | Hot water/steam, detergents, aqueous media. |
| Nitrile / Buna-N (NBR) | -40°F to +257°F (-40°C to +125°C) | 60–90 | Fatty food resistance, oils. |
| PTFE | -328°F to +500°F (-200°C to +260°C) | N/A | Chemically inert, steam sterilizable. |
| FKM / FFKM | up to ≈ +400°F (depends on grade) | 70–90 | High temp & chemical resistance; verify food grade certification. |
Representative AS568 common sizes
| AS568 Dash | Cross-section (in) | Inside Diameter (in) | Outside Diameter (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 0.040 | 0.029 | 0.109. |
| 004 | 0.070 | 0.070 | 0.210. |
| 010 | 0.070 | 0.239 | 0.379. |
| 016 | 0.070 | 0.614 | 0.754. |
| 032 | 0.070 | 1.864 | 2.004. |
| 214 | 0.139 | 0.239 | 0.517. |
(We stock full AS568 range and metric equivalents; custom sizes and cord stock also available.)
Comparison — Food Grade Materials
| Feature | Silicone | EPDM | Nitrile (BUNA-N) | PTFE | FKM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | High temp, low taste/odor | Hot water/steam, detergents | Oils, fatty foods | Aggressive chemistry, steam sterilization | High temp, chemical resistance |
| Typical cleaning | CIP, steam | CIP, alkali detergent | Solvent risk for some oils | Compatible with most | Compatible with many — check grade |
| FDA food contact | Yes (select grades) | Yes (select grades) | Yes (select grades) | Yes (inert) | Select grades only — verify test reports |
FAQs
Q — Are these O-rings FDA approved?
A — The FDA does not “approve” rubber compounds but regulates rubber articles intended for repeated use via 21 CFR 177.2600. We supply compounds and finished parts that meet the conditions of that regulation when requested and can provide test reports for extractables where required.
Q — Which material is best for steam sterilization or CIP?
A — PTFE and high-grade silicone are standard choices for steam and high-temperature sterilization. EPDM also performs well for hot water and steam depending on temperatures. Confirm the sterilization parameters for final selection.
Q — Do you supply AS568 sizes and metric O-rings?
A — Yes. We stock the full AS568 series plus common metric sizes and offer cord stock and custom molding. See the representative AS568 chart above.
Q — Can you provide food contact test reports?
A — Yes. We can supply compound declarations, Certificates of Conformance and extraction test results (per sampling agreement) on request.
Q — Minimum order quantity for custom molded rings?
A — Custom MOQ depends on geometry and material. For molded parts typical MOQs start at several hundred pieces; extrusion and cutting of cord stock can be much lower. Provide print/requirements for an accurate quote.
