DuPont Kalrez O-rings are suitable for harsh working conditions across various industries by virtue of their chemical corrosion resistance, wide temperature range adaptability and low contamination characteristics. They play a pivotal role especially in key processes requiring long-term stable sealing and avoidance of contamination and leakage risks. Their specific application scenarios are as follows:
1. Semiconductor Manufacturing
As a core sealing component for semiconductor processes, Kalrez O-rings are adaptable to various plasma processes and vacuum environments, covering all key links in the entire chip manufacturing process. In deposition processes, for scenarios such as High-Density Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (HDPCVD), Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), they can withstand process gases including TMS, TEOS, NF₃ and O₂ as well as high-temperature environments (250℃ to 310℃). Certain grades such as Kalrez® 9600 feature low erosion and low weight loss, meeting the requirements of high-purity vacuum applications, reducing particle generation and outgassing, and ensuring wafer processing quality. In etching and ashing processes—whether conductor etching (150℃ to 225℃, in contact with media such as CF₄ and HBr), dielectric etching (100℃ to 180℃, in contact with media such as CF₄ and SF₆), or ashing/stripping processes (180℃ to 250℃, in contact with media such as O₂ and NH₃)—corresponding grades such as Kalrez® 9100 and 9300 can resist plasma erosion, extend seal service life and reduce equipment maintenance frequency. In addition, they are applicable to the sealing of process chamber doors, gate valves, gas pipelines, quartz windows and other components. All Kalrez products for semiconductor applications undergo proprietary ultra-clean processing and cleanroom treatment, complying with stringent cleanliness standards.
2. Oil and Gas
Kalrez O-rings are suitable for the complex working conditions of oil and gas exploration, transportation and processing, and can particularly address the challenges of high temperature, high pressure, corrosive media and pressure fluctuations. For downhole equipment such as drilling and completion tools, grades like Kalrez® 0090 pass rigorous Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) tests and comply with standards including NORSOK M-710 and ISO 23936-2. They can withstand hydrogen sulfide-containing acidic media, high temperatures (up to 250℃) and extreme pressure changes without internal cracking, blistering or other defects, ensuring the long-term operation of downhole equipment. For surface equipment, they are used for sealing pumps, valves, compressors and other components, resisting erosion from crude oil, natural gas and various chemical treatment agents, reducing volatile gas leakage, and adapting to frequent pressure cycle conditions, thus cutting maintenance and replacement costs.
3. Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences
Aligning with the strict requirements of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries for hygiene compliance, sterilization resistance and low contamination, Kalrez O-rings are suitable for various aseptic process links. In Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) procedures, grades such as Kalrez® 6221 can withstand high-temperature steam at 160℃ and various cleaning and disinfecting agents, with extremely low extractable content (less than 0.2 mg per square inch). They comply with FDA, GMP, 3A-Sanitary and other standards, preventing contamination of pharmaceuticals and equipment. They are applied to the sealing of Water for Injection (WFI) systems, aseptic pumps, reactors, filling equipment and other components. Their surface finish is compatible with stainless steel equipment, reducing bacterial growth, ensuring the sterility and compliance of the production process, extending the sealing cycle and cutting equipment downtime for disinfection and maintenance.
4. Aerospace
Adaptable to the extreme working conditions of aerospace equipment, Kalrez O-rings provide reliable sealing protection for key components. In aircraft engine systems, they are used in sealing parts to resist erosion from high temperatures, aviation fuel, hydraulic oil and lubricants, maintaining elasticity and sealing integrity in environments with drastic temperature changes and vibration, and preventing fuel or hydraulic oil leakage. In addition, they are applied to the hydraulic systems, fuel pipelines and other components of spacecraft, withstanding extreme temperatures and corrosive media in the space environment, meeting the stringent reliability and durability requirements of aerospace equipment and supporting their long-term stable operation.
5. Chemical Industry
Kalrez O-rings are suitable for various chemical reaction and processing scenarios, especially for corrosive media and high-temperature working conditions. In chemical equipment such as reactors, heat exchangers, pumps, valves and flange joints, they can resist more than 1,800 types of chemicals including strong acids, strong alkalis, ethers, ketones, amine compounds and steam, avoiding sealing failure and material leakage caused by media erosion. For high-temperature reaction processes (able to withstand a continuous operating temperature of up to 327℃), they can maintain compression and rebound performance, reduce sealing surface gaps and adapt to both static and dynamic sealing scenarios, while lowering the risks of environmental pollution and production interruption caused by sealing failure.
6. Other Specialized Scenarios
Photovoltaic Manufacturing
Kalrez O-rings are used as sealing components for vacuum equipment and gas pipelines in processes such as coating for crystalline silicon and thin-film photovoltaic cells, resisting process media and temperature changes and ensuring the stability of the coating process.
Food Processing
FDA-compliant Kalrez grades are applicable to the sealing of food-contact equipment such as aseptic filling and high-temperature sterilization equipment, withstanding cleaning and disinfecting agents and high temperatures, and preventing food contamination by extractables.
Vacuum Equipment
In vacuum equipment such as vacuum furnaces and mass spectrometers, the low outgassing characteristic of Kalrez O-rings can maintain the purity of ultra-high vacuum environments, meeting the requirements of long-term vacuum operation.