Introduction
If you work in an industrial setting or run one, there is no way you haven’t heard of a rubber diaphragm. These very humble components find usage in many applications across various industries. Some vital processes may not function without diaphragms in place, and at times, when the quality of these components is not up to the mark, the risk of contamination, hazardous blowups, and equipment damage are all very high.
What is the Rubber Diaphragm?
A rubber diaphragm is simply a membrane added between chambers to act as a sealant. In some cases, rubber diaphragms can prevent substances in two different chambers from mixing with one another. In other cases, it can also allow flow control using its shape.
A diaphragm is often round in shape, and the rubber used to create the component is flexible. The diaphragm is anchored at the periphery and the centre part of the diaphragm can push out or pull back, depending on the pressure put on it.
You can imagine a diaphragm similar in working to that of a plunger. You have to exert mechanical force with a plunger to create a vacuum and then pull back. With diaphragms, the force exerted is usually pressure changes.
How does the Rubber Diaphragm Work?
The rubber diaphragm’s flexible material makes it respond to pressure changes. When pressure is exerted on the diaphragm’s body, it moves up to a chamber or is pushed back to the other chamber. Thanks to their ability to ensure a constant pressure differential, these components can also be used as a sealant or gasket in various pieces of equipment.
How Much Force Can Rubber Diaphragms Handle?
Tensile strength is a term that talks about the resistance of any material to break under stress. In other words, it is the maximum pressure a substance can handle before breaking down under force. Now, tensile strength is an important term for a rubber diaphragm. Components will very low tensile strength may not handle the internal pressure and break or rip open halfway through.
Arvico Rubber uses multiple materials to create our diaphragms, and you may be able to choose the right material based on the required tensile strength.
Here is a list of common materials of rubber diaphragms and their tensile strength.
| Materials | Tensile strength in psi |
| Natural Rubber | 3000 |
| Nitrile Rubber | 3500 |
| Neoprene Rubber | 3000 |
| Hypalon Rubber | 2500 |
| Butyl Rubber | 2000 |
| EPDM Rubber | 3000 |
| Silicone Rubber | 1100 |
| Viton Rubber | 1800 |
| Polyurethane Rubber | 4000 |
Our polyurethane rubber offers excellent tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and tear resistance. The EPDM rubber is also a great choice in components where the diaphragms need to handle high-pressure situations.
Types of Rubber Diaphragms
Depending on how these rubber diaphragms are used, there are two major categories you should know of.
- Rubber diaphragm valves
- Rubber diaphragm pumps
Rubber Diaphragm Valves
Diaphragm valves are components that can help control fluid flow by monitoring the direction and speed of fluid that flows through it. These valves contain a thin diaphragm-like structure that helps open and close the valve.
Arvico Rubber offers two types of diaphragm valves, including:
- Weir or saddle diaphragm valve
- Straight-through or full-bore diaphragm valve
- Reverse diaphragm valve
We also have a dedicated exclusively to the working of diaphragm valves. So do check that out when you have the time.
Rubber Diaphragm Pumps
Diaphragm pumps are also called membrane pumps, and these help draw fluids from one chamber to another chamber, using pressure as a force. These diaphragm pumps act as seals, helping pumps to push fluids without the need for lubricants.
There are different types of pumps that may use Arvico’s diaphragms.
- Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps (AODD)
- Metering pumps
- Membrane pumps
- Dosing pumps
- Vacuum pumps
- Impellers
Advantages of Rubber Diaphragms
Here are some of the advantages a rubber diaphragm offers.
- Offers excellent sealing features.
- Good quality diaphragms offer airtight seals.
- Diaphragms are relatively very affordable than other sealant methods.
- Very low assembly cost and effort.
- Choosing the right material can ensure your diaphragm handles high temperature and pressure changes effectively.
- Certain materials of rubber diaphragms handle harsh environments amazingly well.
- Can be replaced easily without fuss.
- Diaphragms can be designed in literally any size and other specification required.
Disadvantages of Rubber Diaphragms
There may be certain disadvantages of rubber diaphragms that need to be addressed to use these components effectively.
- Using diaphragms in high-sludge applications may cause blockage.
- Diaphragms need to be changed regularly based on manufacturer recommendations. Otherwise, their effectiveness reduces.
- Picking up the wrong material can lead to breakage or damage to the diaphragm, causing contamination, leakage, and even worse, escape of hazardous materials.
Rubber Diaphragm Selection Guide
Now, a rubber diaphragm may be a very small part of your expansive industrial setup. However, when this is not chosen right, you may have to end up with inefficient processes and damage to expensive equipment. So, before you decide on the type of diaphragm needed, try to answer the below questions.
- What is the maximum temperature/pressure change the diaphragm has to handle?
- Will your process include abrasive or chemical media that can damage the diaphragms?
- How much force will the diaphragm be exposed to?
- Are there any sanitary standards to be kept in mind?
- Would you require higher flex lives?
Discuss these questions with your diaphragm manufacturer to pick the suitable material of rubber diaphragm for your needs.
We, at Arvico, do not proceed with the manufacturing process until we clearly understand the kind of diaphragm that will work the best for our client’s processes.
Where are Rubber Diaphragms Typically Used?
Rubber diaphragms are used in a variety of equipment and gadgets. Some of the common ones are mentioned below.
- Pumps
- Valves
- Control devices
- Meters
- Modulating devices like regulators
- As shock absorbers in pulsating systems and dashpots
It is also used in most industries like the ones below.
- Chemical
- Food and beverage
- Textile
- Pharmaceutical
- Oil refineries
- Medical and Life sciences
How to Install a Rubber Diaphragm?
Diaphragms are generally very easy to install and fit into the appropriate housing easily. You may need to contact your diaphragm manufacturer to understand how exactly their product is designed to be fixed. Most times, it does not take external help to install a rubber diaphragm.
Maintenance of Rubber Diaphragm
The first step to maintaining your rubber diaphragm is to install it right. This, by itself, will give the component longevity. Most experts talk about ‘preventive maintenance,’ and we encourage our clients to do this too.
Preventive maintenance includes regularly checking for performance issues and physical damages without waiting for a problem to actually show up. Preventive maintenance is even more vital if your processes use abrasive or harmful media or extreme temperatures and pressures.
As a thumb rule, diaphragms need to be changed every couple of, despite whether or not they look damaged. So make sure changing diaphragms is in your staff’s to-do list at the right intervals.
What Media do Diaphragms Come in Contact With?
Depending on what application the diaphragms are used in, they may come in contact with so many different kinds of media, including water, oil, gases, chemicals, and other abrasive fluids. The type of rubber diaphragm and its material needs to be chosen depending on the media.
Where to Buy Rubber Diaphragms in India?
Arvico Rubber is one of the country’s leading polymer product manufacturers. We have 55+ years of experience in this industry, and our catalog includes 2500+ products that can be customized in endless ways, thanks to our 20,000+ molds.
All you need to do is reach out to us with your specifications, and our expert team will be able to recommend the right diaphragm for your needs.
Conclusion
If one tiny component plays a vital role in improving process efficiencies and safety in an industrial setup, it is a rubber diaphragm. If you think your manufacturing unit needs a positive revamp, then get in touch with us right now. If you are an original equipment manufacturer or seller, offer your customers the best possible products by choosing our quality diaphragms.
