Face Seal
Squeezed, like a gasket, on both the top and bottom surfaces of the seal's cross section. An axial seal.
FDA
Food and Drug Administration is a U.S. government agency that regulates the ingredients in rubber compounds that are intended for use in food and medical applications.
Filler
A finely divided material used to reinforce or modify elastomer physical properties, impart certain processing properties, or reduce cost. Typical examples are carbon black, clays, calcium carbonates and silicas.
Flash
Excess rubber around a molded part due to cavity overflow and/or parting line of molded surfaces.
Flex Resistance
The ability of an elastomeric product to resist the stress of constant bending.
Flow Lines
Molded article surface imperfections caused by failure of the rubber stock to blend with itself during the molding operation.
Fluid
A liquid or gas.
Friction (Break-Out)
Friction developed in dynamic seal situations during machine startup. When machine operation is irregular, o-rings tend to conform (adhere) to the microfine grooves of surrounding glandular surfaces, requiring extra initial force to break them out of these microfine grooves.
Friction (Running)
A force which resists objects already in motion.