Rapid gas decompression(RGD) or

explosive decompression in O-rings,

what is RGD, how to avoid it.
Published on October 18, 2017

Malatesh reddy Haligeri Follow

Valve worm, 5+ years old..more into AR edrawings, simulation, 5 0 0
prototype, validation and certification.
1 article

What is RGD

Rapid gas decompression is a kind of failure in elastomer seals, caused when the system
containing elastomers is pressurized, elastomers absorbs the pressurized gas and when
system is depressurized the entrapped gas expands rupturing the elastomers,it is also called
as Explosive decompression.

When valve O-rings are subjective

to this kind of environments they
result in O-ring failures cause of
internal cracks and splitting.it is
also seen that the RGD occurs in
the system containing dry gas.

Now we know, what is RGD but

in most of the cases we fail to
understand what properties in
O-rings can avoid the RGD, this
article is to understand the
Properties of the O-rings/O-ring elastomer which avoids the RGD.

On what RGD of an O-ring depends.

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 The RGD mainly depends upon the combination of these factors.

1. Service gas permeation in elastomer.

2. Service Pressure.

3. Service temperature.

4. Tear strength.

5. Number operating cycles.

How to avoid the RGD.

There are many factors, but in this context, we will stick to basic and most effective

Proper selection of the Elastomer material –while selecting the O-ring material, care should
be taken such that its material and mechanical properties are compatible with the service
pressure, temperature and cycles.

Hardness – Increasing the hardness of the O-ring elastomer increases the resistance to RGD,
But harder O-rings have the problem with assembly and stretching. So, care must be taken
while selecting the hardness of the O-ring with respect to grove size, stretch percentage and
grove tolerance.

Void sizes in the O-rings – Voids of minute sizes are present in the O-rings, but if the
percentage of the larger voids increases then these voids are considered as the potential
cause for the failure, because inflation of these voids will start at lower pressure.it is
recommended that elastomeric seals used in high-pressure service should not have voids or
rigid inclusions larger than 10 μm.

So, in general a service compatible O-ring with less gas permeation rate and with higher
hardness (suitable for assembly) can reduce the RGD.

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