Product family
Inflatable Seals
We design custom inflatable rubber seals that actuate on air pressure — inflating to make a 100% contamination-proof seal, then retracting on deflation for zero-force opening. Built for rapid, repeated sealing cycles where conventional seals fail.
Overview
Seal on demand, release on demand
ARC manufactures non-reinforced and fabric-reinforced inflatable (pneumatic) seals that expand under internal air pressure to close gaps doors and lids can’t close mechanically — sealing radially inward or radially outward as the application requires. Seals are produced by extrusion-and-join for endless gaskets and by full molding for continuous and mandrel geometries, with corner-molded and reinforced constructions for airtight results. Because they actuate with pressure rather than compression, inflatable seals deliver a full seal with far less closing force than static elastomeric seals. We engineer each profile, mounting style and compound to your pressure, temperature and cycle-life targets.
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Capabilities
Pressure-actuated inflate/deflate for zero-force door and hatch closure
Radially inward and radially outward sealing directions
Non-reinforced and fabric-reinforced (cotton, polyester, nylon, Nomex, Dacron, Kevlar)
Customizable integral valve and inlet-tube placement
Extrusion-and-join for endless seals; full molding on continuous and mandrel
Corner-molded and vulcanized-joint constructions for airtight loops
Engineered to inflation height, deflation gap, pressure and temperature
Metal-to-rubber bonding and single/multi-bladder mechanisms
What we make
Inflatable seal types we build
All-elastomer seals for lower-pressure, higher-stretch applications.
Fabric-embedded seals for higher operating pressures and dimensional control.
No special base — mounted via PSA backing or pre-machined grooves.
Flexible base feature fastened at regular intervals.
Tapered side profile that snaps into reverse-tapered slots.
Any profile with pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the base.
Fully retract within the slot when deflated for flush clearance.
Inflatable bladders for holding, gripping and expanding mandrels.
Gallery
Inflatable Seals we've built
Industries we serve
Where it's used
Typical applications
Need an inflatable seal designed?
Send your drawing, sample or service conditions — our engineers confirm the compound, tooling and a path to production.
Custom Inflatable Rubber Seals with Customizable Valve and Inlet Tube
American Rubber Corp is a leading, Made in USA manufacturer of inflatable rubber seals with a customizable valve and inlet tube. Inflatable seals inflate to provide a contamination-proof seal across a wide range of applications and, unlike traditional elastomeric seals, can effectively seal irregular or misaligned surfaces to enhance sealing integrity. Their unique design allows them to inflate and form a tight barrier between the mounting and striking surfaces, requiring less force while ensuring a 100% seal, which makes them the ideal solution for demanding and unusual sealing applications. As an engineering-led manufacturer with 20 years of experience, we provide design consultation and material selection support, guiding you through critical parameters such as inflation height, deflation (relaxed-state) gap, operating pressure, and operating temperature. We produce non-reinforced inflatable seals, fabric-reinforced inflatable seals, and both custom and standard inflatable seals to your specification.
How Inflatable Seals Are Used and Made
Rubber inflatable seals are used throughout industry to achieve optimized, dynamic sealing or grip for hard-to-seal irregular areas, misaligned surfaces with gaps between them, and applications where rapid, repeated sealing and unsealing is a critical requirement. Across industries they are also called pneumatic gaskets or dynamic seals. We custom-design and manufacture inflatable rubber seals in a variety of profiles, either extruded and joined into an endless gasket or fully molded through continuous molding and mandrel operations. Seal geometry, operating conditions, desired pressure, and the method and interface by which the seal is installed are among the most critical factors in achieving the sealing quality and long operating life these seals can deliver.
Reinforcement and Directional Sealing
We manufacture custom-designed reinforced inflatable gaskets based on the requirements and operating details you provide. The reinforcement material is selected to match your desired operating pressure and temperature, and we offer a choice of polyester, cotton, nylon, Nomex, and Kevlar reinforcement for custom-manufactured inflatable seals. Our seals are built for radially inward as well as radially outward sealing depending on the application. Our dedicated engineering team works closely with you from the initial design stage through the final manufacturing run to recommend the right inflatable seal materials and design.
Elastomer Compounds and Reinforcement Fabrics
- Elastomer compounds: Silicone, EPDM, Butyl, Nitrile (Buna-N or NBR), FKM (a generic compound of Viton, a registered trademark of The Chemours Company), Neoprene/Chloroprene, TPE, and PTFE (a generic compound of Teflon, a registered trademark of The Chemours Company)
- Reinforcement fabrics: Cotton, Polyester, Nylon, Nomex, Dacron, and Kevlar