Invisible to standard inspection. PRP routinely finds >130,000 particles per cm2 at ≥1.3µm on seal surfaces.
That’s why we built VeriClean SealsTM – to quantify your particulate load, reduce it, and verify the results. A Quantified Contamination Risk Reduction program for fluid-path applications where what’s on a seal surface — before it enters your system — matters.
The Problem – Specification Gap
Every elastomeric seal arrives with surface contamination. Particles from manufacturing, handling, packaging, and supply chain. ISO 3601-3 specifies surface inspection at ×2 magnification — structurally blind to particles at ≥1.3 µm. No component-level surface cleanliness standard exists for elastomeric seals. This is the Specification Gap.
The VARIABILITY of particle burden within the same batch, within the same bag, is immense, invisible, and uncontrolled. Individual seals within those populations range from approximately 630 to more than 127,000 particles/cm². Seal-to-seal variability within the same bag exceeds 20-fold. Price and visual grade are weakly correlated with contamination burden.
80,000+
particles/cm² on as-received commercial seals
20×
seal-to-seal variability
×2 Magnification
structurally blind at ≥1.3 µm
The Mechanism – CCD
Cyclic Contamination Displacement™ (CCD) is the ongoing process by which seal surface contamination migrates into the fluid system. Under pressurization, thermal cycling, and mechanical cycling, the effective wetted area of an O-ring expands 3:1 to 8:1 beyond the initial static footprint. Contamination release is cumulative and ongoing — not a one-time installation event.
The 11 Contamination Classes
Talc (1–20 µm) mold release agent, anti tac agent, compounding filler · Carbon black (0.01–100 µm) compounding filler pervasive to rubber molding factories · Skin squames (20–50 µm) · Sebum (film) · Textile fibers (50–2,000 µm+) · These are just 5 of 11 contamination classes which act alone or in agglomerations create the risk of fouling, micro abrasion, bioactivity, and output fluid failure. Our whitepapers talk to this in more detail.
| Contamination Class | Typical Level |
|---|---|
| Talc | 1–20 µm |
| Carbon black | 0.1–20 µm |
| Mold release oils | 0.1–20 µm |
| Cryogenic grit / polycarbonate | 5–50 µm |
| Loose flash | 10–500 µm+ |
| Skin squames | 20–50 µm |
| Respiratory salts | 1–10 µm |
| Sebum (film) | .5–4 µm |
| Textile fibers | 50–2,000 µm+ |
| Cardboard fibers | 30–500 µm |
| Floor grit | 1–100 µm+) |
VeriClean Processing
ISO Class 7 cleanroom processing. 30 individual particle extraction and count tests across size buckets from ≥1.3µm. VeriClean processing achieves particle volume reductions of 49–72% and count reductions of 37–70% across tested elastomer families. Where lower reductions are observed, this reflects seals that entered processing with a relatively low baseline burden — itself a favorable supply chain signal.
Backwards compatible with existing BOM specifications. VeriClean processing does not alter compound, durometer, dimensions, or chemical compatibility. No requalification required.
Quantify your current exposure – Get Characterized
A seal-specific contamination assessment run on seals from your current inventory — off your sheld, the seals you’re assembling with today. n=40 seals from your current production SKU. 30 individual particle extraction and count tests, detailed reporting and statistical visualization, and a 30-minute technical consult to review your results — a body of specialized laboratory and technical work that would cost multiples of the VCQ fee if commissioned independently — delivered in 1-3 weeks.
The Bullseye risk visualization positions your SKU against two reference points: the commodity population baseline — where your seals sit relative to industry average — and the achievable VeriClean Seals™ program results. You see the burden, you see the benchmark, you decide.
Results delivered digitally and with your returned seals
