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Parker Hannifi n Corporation • O-Ring Division
2360 Palumbo Drive, Lexington, KY 40509
Phone: (859) 269-2351 • Fax: (859) 335-5128
www.parkerorings.com
Back-Up Rings
Parker O-Ring Handbook
Back-Up Rings
6.1 Introduction
Parker’s Parbak
®
back-up rings help prevent extrusion in
high pressure service and compensate for loose fi tting parts.
The use of loose fi tting parts makes for cost reduction in the
machining of unit components.
The 90 durometer curve in Figure 3-5 may be used to fi nd
the maximum recommended clearance at a given pressure for
temperatures up to 74°C (165°F) when standard Parbak rings
in Parker’s N1444-90 nitrile compound are used to protect
an O-ring from extrusion. In using these curves, it must be
remembered that cylinders tend to expand when pressurized.
The clearance that the Parbak will see is the clearance between
the piston and the expanded cylinder.
The extrusion curves can be used in two different ways to
reap the benefi ts of Parbaks, depending on the application. In
low pressure seals, the curves will indicate wider permissible
clearances than those given in the design charts. Tolerances on
these can be opened up until they permit these larger clearances
to occur, resulting in substantial machining economies. When
tolerances are increased, however, one must check to be sure
that squeeze values do not become too high or too low.
In high pressure applications, the curves will indicate whether
adding a Parbak will permit the use of standard catalog
gland dimensions or whether the clearance will need to be
reduced further.
In double acting seal assemblies, a Parbak is required on both
sides of the O-ring. It is cheap insurance to use two Parbaks
even in single acting installations. At assembly, it is too easy
to place a single Parbak on the wrong side of the O-ring. By
specifying one on each side of the O-ring, there will be one
on the low pressure side, where it is needed, and the extra
Parbak does no harm.
Unlike many PTFE back-up rings, Parbak rings are continuous;
they do not have a cut because they can be stretched over the
end of a piston during assembly. Hence they contact the mat-
ing O-ring uniformly, and do not cause localized wear spots.
Parbaks are contoured on one face to minimize distortion of
the O-ring when under pressure, yet the orientation of the
contoured face is immaterial to the proper function of the
part because it is fl exible.
Parbaks are quick and easy to assemble, minimizing assembly
costs, and they cannot fall out of the O-ring groove. Besides
their advantages as anti-extrusion devices, Parbak rings help
trap lubricant, preserving the O-ring and reducing friction.
The standard sizes are listed in Table 6-1. Refer to the appro-
priate Design Chart for recommended groove width. Special
sizes are also made to order.
6.2 Anti-Extrusion Device Design Hints
1. Wherever possible use two back-up rings, one on each
side of the O-ring.
2. If only one back-up ring is used, the O-ring should be
placed between it and the source of pressure.
3. Parbaks should be installed with the contoured face
against the O-ring, but reversal does no harm.
4. Parker’s Parbaks will not “collapse” or cold fl ow if used
with proper groove designs.
5. Use groove widths given in the Static O-Ring Sealing
and Dynamic O-Ring Sealing Sections.
6.3 Parbak Elastomer Back-Up Rings
Hard rubber back-up rings combine most of the best features
of both leather and PTFE anti-extrusion devices. Although
no industrial or military standards have been issued for
rubber back-up rings, they have been in use for a number
of years. These are special devices designed to satisfy a
specifi c problem.
Parbaks in Parker Seal Group’s standard nitrile compound,
N1444-90, are generally usable through a temperature range
of -40°C to 121°C (-40° to 250°F). Hardening of this material
due to high or low temperatures often improves performance
as a back-up ring.
Features of Parbak Rings
1. Elastic memory permits Parbak rings to be stretched into
place for assembly without preconditioning or cutting.
2. Continuous construction prevents damage to the O-ring
seal.
3. Lubrication is enhanced by rubber which absorbs system
fl uid and does not plate out on rubbing surfaces.
6.4 Other Back-Up Ring Materials
6.4.1 Polytetrafl uoroethylene (PTFE) Back-Up Rings
Anti-extrusion rings made from tetrafl uoroethylene are
impervious to oils and solvents. Acids and inorganic salts
have very little effect on PTFE resin. In addition to its good
chemical resistance, PTFE may be used over a wide tempera-
ture range, from below -73°C to over 204°C (-100°F to over
400°F). Thus, PTFE back-up rings may be used with most
elastomeric O-ring seals. For installation, PTFE back-up rings
are supplied either scarf or spiral cut as shown in Figure 6-1.
These discontinuities may contribute to seal damage due to
biting and pinching. PTFE can also impair seal lubrication by
plating rubbing surfaces with PTFE resin to which lubricating
oil will not adhere.
Parbak
®
is a registered trademark of Parker Hannifi n Corporation.
