Many modern electronics, fiber optic systems, and various industrial applications rely on hermetic sealing. This sealing protects components from exposure to gases and liquids, including water, the air, and chemicals. Often, a hermetically sealed electrical or fiber optic connector is necessary to ensure efficient and reliable fiber optic systems. Let’s take a deeper dive into hermetic connectors.
A Brief Overview of Hermetically Sealed Connectors
According to Britannica, the legendary ancient Greek figure Hermes Trismegistus described a process for creating a vacuum-sealed tube, which is why the term “Hermetic” is used for these seals and connectors. We can’t be sure if Hermes successfully created a hermetic seal, but regardless, his line of thinking would influence future generations. Hermetic seals are now used in a wide range of applications.
Hermetic seals and feedthrough connectors can protect components from the environment and increase efficiency. Many refrigerators now use hermetic seals, which have dramatically improved efficiency. For example, according to GloBird Energy, a refrigerator in the mid-80s used about four times as much electricity (1400 kWh) when compared to a modern one (350 kWh). Now that you’ve got a bit of context, let’s explore some of the different types of hermetic seals.
Complete Sealing and Mating Sealing
As the name implies, a complete seal is a type of hermetically sealed connector designed to stop any moisture or gas from getting through a bulkhead or chamber whether pressure or vacuum. This includes the jack, plug, and cable. With mating sealing, once two connectors are mated, they will be sealed against gases and leaks. To ensure effective sealing, you must be very careful when mating two connectors. Otherwise, you’ll experience leaks.
Inner Sealing and Panel Sealing
Inner sealing aims to seal only certain parts of the connector, namely the feedthrough connector body, insulators, and both the inner and outer conductors. With panel sealing, the gap between a panel mounting hole and the connector body is sealed to prevent exposure to gas and liquids.
Material Types
It’s also important to consider material types, as you can get glass-to-glass hermetic seals. You can also use glass to metal seals, which are common in the lighting industry. If you’re operating in particularly harsh environments, you may need to use ceramic to metal seals, as they are the most robust.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when selecting a hermetically sealed connector. Which one is right for your project? That will depend on the specifics of the environment and application. It’s wise to work with an experienced hermetic connector dealer to pin down the best type. Contact PAVE Technology today to learn more!
