Splicing

When you need a continuous seal

Splicing is used when an application requires a continuous seal such as a multi-sided frame or an o-ring. When designing a spliced seal the key considerations are the physical integrity of the joint. Look below to see Lauren's solution to these situations.

Cold Splicing

Simply a matter of gluing two or more pieces of a seal together using quick-setting glue such as cyano-acrylate or super glue. Generally, cold splicing is less expensive depending on the complexity of the cross section and design of the seal. It is faster and usually a little stronger; however, it is a great deal more unsightly and can be brittle. The seal will also have different properties than the sealed material. There are few, if any, tooling costs.

Hot Splicing

Considered to be the industry standard and is most desirable when cosmetics are a concern. The glue used in hot splicing is rubber-based and has to be cured, or vulcanized, in place. This creates a splice that has reasonable strength, retains a lot of the properties of the seal itself and is not nearly as noticeable. The process may take longer than cold splicing depending on the cross section. This process requires some tooling costs for the curing process; therefore, it is also a little more expensive.

Injection Splicing

Works similar to injection molding. A mold is created so that two or more pieces of a seal can be inserted into the tooling. A polymer is then injected or transferred into the mold cavity, adhering the ends of the seal and creating a continuous o-ring or multi-sided gasket. The process allows for much greater detail work on the seal, and it generally produces a splice that is very aesthetically pleasing. It is the slowest and most expensive of the three splicing techniques. This method often requires significant tooling, which can also be expensive.