Aerospace Industry
Custom molded and extruded rubber and plastic parts for aerospace assemblies – built to your print, or designed with you.
Rubber and plastic applications in aerospace
COi Rubber manufactures custom molded and extruded rubber and plastic parts for the aerospace industry. Buyers come to us when a part has to seal, isolate, cushion or protect – at a door or hatch, through a bulkhead, under an instrument, or between an airframe and the equipment mounted to it. We work with original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers, building to your print or helping you design the part from the requirement up.
Below are common rubber and plastic applications in aerospace assemblies, and the materials we mold for them. These are engineering considerations, not guarantees of suitability – final selection depends on your drawing, operating environment and testing. Send a drawing or a sample part and we will match the compound, durometer and process to the application.
Applications:
- Cabin, door and hatch seals (rubber) – keep pressure differentials, dust and moisture managed at doors, hatches and access panels. Compound choice follows the temperature range and cycling the seal will see.
- Grommets and bulkhead wire-pass seals (rubber) – protect wire and cable where it passes through bulkheads and structure; sized to the panel thickness and cable OD.
- O-rings and connector seals (rubber) – keep mated connectors and fittings sealed against moisture, dust and pressure changes.
- Vibration and shock isolation mounts (rubber or rubber-metal assemblies) – isolate avionics, instruments and equipment from airframe vibration and handling shock.
- Diaphragms and valve seals (rubber) – for pneumatic and fluid-control components; compound follows the media and temperature involved.
- Clamp cushions and edge protection (rubber) – cushioned clamps and edging that protect tubing, wiring and panels from chafing.
- Plastic housings, bezels and interior trim (plastic) – molded or extruded plastic components where insulation, weight or cosmetics call for polymer instead of metal.
Materials:
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Have a question? Use our contact form to receive information regarding your inquiry. You may also give us a call at (626) 965-9966.
Materials and your RFQ
Temperature swings, ozone and fluids are the enemies of rubber in aerospace service. Silicone keeps its properties across a wide temperature range and suits seals, gaskets and insulating pads. EPDM resists ozone and weathering for exposed applications. Polychloroprene (CR) balances oil, ozone and weather resistance for general-purpose parts. FKM resists chemicals and fuels where exposure is a factor. Natural rubber and SBR bring resilience for mounts and bumpers.
When you request a part, tell us the temperature range, media or chemical exposure, and expected service life, and include the drawing or a sample part. We match the compound and durometer to that.
Design considerations for aerospace parts
The right compound depends on the conditions the part will live in. The points below shape material and geometry choices for aerospace applications:
- Sealing, pressure and ingress. Door, hatch and access-panel seals manage pressure differentials, dust and moisture; the target conditions drive gasket profile, compression and compound. Tell us what the seal must hold back and how often it cycles.
- Temperature and thermal cycling. Continuous and peak temperatures narrow the compound list; silicone keeps its properties across a wide temperature range, EPDM suits ozone and weather exposure, FKM covers fluid and heat exposure together.
- Fluid and media exposure. Fuels, hydraulic fluids, cleaning agents and other media rule compounds in or out – list what the part will contact so selection starts from the right family.
- Vibration and shock. Durometer and geometry trade damping against stability; mounts for avionics, instruments and equipment are sized from the load and the frequencies involved.
- Flammability and smoke requirements. If your assembly specification calls for a flammability or smoke-toxicity rating, include that requirement with the drawing so material selection starts from it.
- Chafing and wear. Clamp cushions, grommets and edging protect tubing, wiring and panels where vibration would otherwise wear them; thickness and compound follow the contact surfaces.
These are engineering considerations to review together at the quoting stage, not guarantees of suitability for a specific application.
Molding and extrusion for aerospace
We match the process to the part and the volume:
- Rubber molding – compression, transfer and injection molding for seals, gaskets, grommets, diaphragms, mounts and pads, from prototype quantities through production runs.
- Plastic molding and extrusion – injection-molded housings, bezels and trim, plus extruded profiles where the cross-section is constant.
- Bonded assemblies – rubber bonded to metal or plastic inserts where the part must seal and fasten in one piece.
Send a drawing or a sample part and we will recommend the process, tooling approach and compound together.
From prototype to production
Every new part goes through first article inspection or a Level 1 PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) before production – Level 3 for automotive, Level 4 for higher-requirement projects. We provide material certifications verified in our own lab against your material requirements, plus a dimensional layout, a bubble blueprint and a signed first article form. Level 3 goes into full industry-standard PPAP documentation depth: design records, process flow, PFMEA, control plan, MSA, capability studies (CPK) and the Part Submission Warrant (PSW). Higher-requirement projects can run customer-defined Level 4 submissions where specified. Our manufacturing facility is IATF 16949 certified, with APQP and 5-Why and fishbone root-cause analysis built into our quality process. Once a part is approved, we hold the compound, durometer and tooling consistent so reorders match the approved part.
What to include in your RFQ
A complete RFQ gets a faster, more accurate quote. Include what you can from this list:
- Drawing or sample part (2D or 3D files welcome)
- Prototype and annual quantities
- Operating environment: temperature range, pressure and fluid exposure
- Any required standard or rating (for example a flammability rating)
- Tolerance and fit requirements, including mating surfaces
- Target timeline for samples and production
Send these to sales@coirubber.com and we will respond with material and process recommendations.