When it comes to hydraulic and pneumatic systems, seal performance depends heavily on material selection. Whether you're battling high pressure, extreme temperatures, aggressive chemicals, or intense wear, the wrong material can lead to premature failure and costly downtime.
At Black Hawk Seals, we’ve engineered a full lineup of premium sealing materials designed to meet the needs of demanding applications. In this guide, we break down the differences between our top proprietary materials: Vulcalon™, Rhinolon™, Tylon™, Armourlon™, and Polycot™, to help you choose the best fit for your system.
Why Material Selection Matters
Not all seals are created equal, and not all rubber, plastic, or PTFE-based seals perform the same. The right material can mean the difference between a system that runs smoothly and one that fails under pressure. That’s why at Black Hawk Seals, we don’t just supply seals, we engineer them for the extremes.
Every environment presents its own set of challenges: high heat, harsh chemicals, intense pressure, or rapid movement. Choosing the wrong material for any one of those variables can lead to breakdowns, leaks, and costly downtime. That’s why material selection isn’t just important, it’s essential.
Our proprietary materials are formulated with these challenges in mind, so you get sealing solutions that last longer, perform better, and protect your equipment investment. Use this guide to discover how each Black Hawk material is purposefully built to meet the demands of real-world applications.
black hawk's materials
Vulcalon™ – Durable Thermoset Rubber for Fluid Sealing
- Ideal for: O-rings, rod seals, piston seals
- Strengths: High resistance to hydraulic fluids, low compression set, temperature flexibility
- Composed of: NBR, HNBR, FKM, EPDM, and silicone blends
- Best for: Applications needing long-term pressure retention and fluid resistance
Rhinolon™ – Tough Thermoplastic Elastomer for Dynamic Sealing
- Ideal for: Rod, piston, static, and buffer seals
- Strengths: Excellent extrusion resistance, abrasion resistance, and dimensional stability
- Composed of: Polyurethane, TPEE, and polycarbonate-based blends
- Best for: High-cycle mobile equipment, actuators, and machinery that sees constant motion
Tylon™ – Low-Friction, High-Temp Performance
- Ideal for: Wear rings, back-up rings, and high-speed dynamic seals
- Strengths: Low coefficient of friction, chemical resistance, and excellent thermal stability
- Composed of: Filled and modified PTFE
- Typical applications: Food and beverage processing equipment, high-speed hydraulic cylinders, pharmaceutical systems, and chemically exposed sealing zones
Armourlon™ – Engineered Plastics for Load and Stability
- Ideal for: Structural seal components and high-load applications
- Strengths: Dimensional stability, mechanical strength, and resistance to deformation under stress
- Composed of: Nylon, PEEK, UHMWPE, and other performance plastics
- Typical applications: Valve seats in oil & gas tools, static seals in mining equipment, and guide elements in heavy machinery
Polycot™ – Composite Strength for Heavy-Duty Wear
- Ideal for: Guide rings, bearing strips, and support elements
- Strengths: Superior wear resistance, low friction under heavy load, and dry-running capability
- Composed of: Reinforced fabric composites bonded with thermoset resins
- Typical applications: Hydraulic press columns, telescoping cylinders, marine hatch guides, and high-load mechanical linkages
Choosing a Sealing Material
Still Need Help Selecting the Right Material?
Whether you’re replacing an OEM part or designing a custom component, our team can help you choose the optimal material based on temperature, fluid, movement, and application pressure. Contact us today or download the Black Hawk Seals catalog to explore our full material offerings and profiles.
