O-Ring Seal Design: Face Seals for External Pressure
Kevin HardyFebruary 20, 2026
An o-ring in a groove with the endcap secured. (Courtesy Parker Seal Company)An o-ring in a groove with the endcap secured. (Courtesy Parker Seal Company)
It’s a mechanical problem first. If the seals don’t work, what’s inside doesn’t matter anymore.
Right off the bat: Parker Seal Company literally wrote the book on o-ring seals. There is no better design reference for o-ring seal design than the Parker O-ring Handbook (ORD-5700). A pdf is available for free at