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Sealing with Elastomers

3rd March 2027
Shropshire, UK
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Key course information

  • Course learning format: IN-PERSON COURSE
  • More course dates: See below or click 'Register'
  • Pricing: click 'Register' to preview
  • Course duration: One Day 
  • Location: Shropshire, UK
  • Interactive learning face-to-face with expert tutors
  • Electronic course notes
  • Gain CPD Credits: Smithers training is IOM3 Quality Assured and counts towards professional development.

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Upcoming in-person course dates

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3 March 2027
8 September 2027

Course overview

Elastomer seals play a critical role in ensuring the safe and reliable operation of many engineering systems. When they fail, the consequences can extend far beyond the cost of the component itself - causing downtime, damage and reputational loss.

This expert-led course provides a clear understanding of the materials, properties and design factors that underpin effective sealing. You’ll learn how to select appropriate elastomeric materials based on service conditions, develop robust specifications, and address long-term performance issues to prevent premature failure.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge to identify potential causes of seal failure, make informed material and design choices, and improve the overall reliability of your sealing systems

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
  • Understand the key properties of rubber materials and how they influence sealing performance.
  • Know how to select appropriate elastomeric materials based on service conditions.
  • Understand the principles of effective seal design and specification development.
  • Recognise the factors affecting long-term seal performance and reliability.
  • Understand common causes of seal failure and how to prevent them

Course content

Introduction to Elastomer Materials
  • Basic introduction to elastomers, their fundamental properties and how this affects their performance.
  • Why elastomers need to be formulated and vulcanised to achieve durable performance.
Elastomer Types and Their Selection
  • Different elastomer types, their structure and properties and how these inform their selection as a sealing material.
  • Understand the process and key criteria for selecting an elastomer suited to specific service conditions and operating environments.
Seal Formulation Design
  • Explore the compounding principles needed to develop durable seal formulations. 
  • Review examples showing how key ingredients influence properties critical to sealing performance.
Introduction to Seal Design Concepts
  • Fundamental concepts of sealing with elastomers.
  • How the properties of the seal material can affect sealing.
  • Examples of good and bad seal design options to help avoid the design pitfalls.
  • How techniques such as FEA can assist in the design process.
Assessment of Long Term Sealing Properties
  • Specific elastomer properties that influence long term sealing performance.
  • Learn about the testing methods and evaluation techniques used to assess and predict long-term sealing performance, helping you identify durable seal materials. 
Seal Material Specification
  • An appropriate material specification underpins successful material selection and seal performance.
    • Learn how to create a robust material specification
    • What tests to include
    • How an existing specification can be optimised.
Avoidance of Seal Failures
  • Review the main types and causes of seal failure, how to identify them, and how to determine their root causes. 
  • Learn the steps needed to prevent failure and achieve long-term sealing performance in demanding environments. 

Who should attend

This course is ideal for anyone involved in the design, manufacture or specification of products that incorporate rubber seals.

It will be particularly valuable for:

  • Engineers, designers and technical staff looking to improve seal performance and reliability.
  • Professionals working with elastomeric seals who have limited technical knowledge of rubber materials and their behaviour.
  • Anyone seeking a clearer understanding of how material selection, design and performance factors influence sealing effectiveness.

Meet your expert tutors

Gary Crutchley, Lead Consultant, Smithers

Gary Crutchley – Lead Consultant

Gary is a Lead Consultant with over 30 years’ experience in rubber and elastomer technology. His expertise spans compound formulation, processing, and failure analysis, with a background in tyre R&D for leading global manufacturers. Gary provides consultancy and expert witness services worldwide, supporting clients with material selection, compounding, manufacturing optimisation and technical training.

Phil Hall, Principal Consultant, Smithers

Phil Hall – Principal Consultant, Rubber and Elastomers

Phil Hall is a Principal Consultant with over 30 years’ experience in rubber and elastomer technology across the aerospace, defence, automotive and manufacturing sectors. He combines deep technical knowledge with leadership experience in design, production and quality, and provides expert consultancy in material selection, compounding, process optimisation and failure diagnosis.

Contact us or download a brochure

Reach out to the training team now - ask about this course or discuss your training goals.  
Sam Rogers

Sam Rogers

Training Product Manager - Materials Science and Engineering

Contact Sam

VIEW THE BROCHURE

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