Dynamic sealing

TIXAN'AIR® inflatable silicone seal

Pneumatic seals that close by inflating and release on deflation. Controlled sealing between moving elements with expansion up to 25 mm. From single pieces to large production runs, in extruded profiles with specific welding and an overmoulded cone for the inflation valve.

Max. expansionUp to 25 mm
Service pressure1–5 bar depending on profile
Temperature–60 °C to +200 °C
DirectionsAxial · Inner radial · Outer radial

Maximum values depending on profile type. Consult specification for each application.

The product

Seal and release on demand: the pneumatic principle behind TIXAN'AIR®.

Sealing between parts with relative motion is one of the toughest problems to solve with conventional seals. When a door, hatch, shaft or panel needs to move freely during operation and seal hermetically in the closed position, a seal that can retract and expand on demand is required. That is exactly what a TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal does.

TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal
TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal
TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal
TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal
TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal

Specifications

Service pressure
1 to 5 bar (depending on profile) · specific values for each reference
Maximum expansion
Up to 25 mm with TGD profile
Expansion directions
Axial · Outer radial · Inner radial
Temperature
–60 °C to +200 °C (high-tear VMQ formulation)
Available hardnesses
50, 60 and 70 Shore A · references EQ150 / EQ160 / EQ170
Tear resistance
35 to 40 kN/m · higher than standard silicone
Inflation fluids
Compressed air · nitrogen · water · other inert gases or fluids
Quality management
ISO 9001:2015 · ISO 13485:2016
Restricted substances
REACH (1907/2006) · RoHS (2015/863)
Sealing direction

The expansion direction defines how and where the seal closes

Expansion

  • 01Axial
  • 02Outer radial
  • 03Inner radial
Materials

High-tear formulations for repeated inflation cycles

Series 1 – Peroxide-cure silicone with high tear resistance

Series 1 is a peroxide-cured VMQ silicone formulation designed for demanding industrial applications that require high tear strength, sound mechanical behaviour and stable performance in continuous service. It is suitable for extrusion and moulding, enabling production of profiles, tubes, gaskets and technical parts subjected to repeated mechanical stress.

Peroxide-cured silicone with high tear strength, processable by extrusion or moulding. Offers strong mechanical properties, excellent thermal behaviour and food-contact compliance depending on the formulation.

Shore A hardness40 – 70
Temperature range-60 °C / 200 °C
Density (g/cm³)1.12 – 1.19
Tensile strength (MPa)6.0 – 8.0
Elongation at break (%)500 – 600
Tear strength (kN/m)26.0 – 40.0
Curing systemPeroxide
Processing methodExtrusion and Moulding
Base colourNatural / Transparent
Available coloursVarious colours from the RAL chart

Applications

  • Inflatable gaskets, tubes, profiles and moulded silicone parts.

Certifications and technical standards

  • FDA 21 CFR §177.2600
  • BfR IX and XV
  • CE 1935/2004 (food contact depending on formulation)
  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH compliant
  • NF ISO 7619-1
  • NF ISO 37
  • NF ISO 34-1
  • NF ISO 2781
  • ISO 3302 (M2/E1/L2)

Series 10 – High-tear platinum-cure silicone for medical and food-grade applications

Series 10 is a platinum-catalysed silicone blend designed to deliver exceptionally high tear strength. It can be processed by extrusion and moulding. Platinum curing gives it superior purity (no peroxide by-products), making it ideal for medical applications (USP Class VI, ISO 10993) and food contact, while also ensuring high-performance mechanical properties.

High-purity technical silicone catalysed with platinum, processable by extrusion and moulding. It offers very good tear strength, excellent mechanical properties and food and medical compatibility depending on the formulation. It has a thermal range from -60 °C to +200 °C and is available in a wide range of hardnesses (40–80 ShA).

Shore A hardness40 – 80
Temperature range-60 °C / 200 °C
Density (g/cm³)1.12 – 1.24
Tensile strength (MPa)7.0 – 9.0
Elongation at break (%)320 – 760
Tear strength (kN/m)33.0 – 55.0
Catalysis typePlatinum
Processing methodExtrusion and moulding
Base colourNatural / Transparent
Available coloursRAL colours on request

Applications

  • Inflatable seals, tubes, profiles and moulded parts for industrial, medical and food-contact applications.

Certifications and technical standards

  • FDA 21 CFR §177.2600
  • BfR IX and XV
  • CE 1935/2004
  • ISO 10993 (depending on formulation)
  • USP Class VI
  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH compliant
  • NF ISO 7619-1
  • NF ISO 37
  • NF ISO 34-1
  • NF ISO 2781
  • ISO 3302 (M2/E1/L2)

Series 20 – Peroxide silicone with high tear and high thermal resistance (270°C)

Series 20 is a peroxide-cured silicone compound that combines two critical properties: excellent tear strength and high thermal stability. It is processable by extrusion and moulding. This dual formulation makes it ideal for applications requiring both mechanical durability and high-temperature resistance (up to +270°C), such as inflatable gaskets in ovens or profiles under tension in hot environments.

Shore A hardness45 – 70
Temperature range-60 °C / 270 °C
Density (g/cm³)1.12 – 1.20
Tensile strength (MPa)7.0 – 8.0
Elongation at break (%)400 – 550
Tear strength (kN/m)30.0 – 36.0
Curing systemPeroxide
Processing methodExtrusion and Moulding
Base colourNatural / Transparent

Applications

  • Inflatable gaskets, profiles, high-temperature moulded parts.

Certifications and technical standards

  • FDA 21 CFR §177.2600
  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH compliant

Series 12 – Platinum-cure silicone with strong mechanical properties and versatility

Series 12 is a platinum-cured silicone compound processable by extrusion and moulding, recognised for its strong mechanical properties. It offers a very wide hardness range (10 to 90 Shore A) and food-contact compliance. A notable feature is that suction tubes manufactured with the EQ1260T grade are validated for integration into medical devices requiring CE marking.

Platinum-cured silicone with excellent mechanical properties and broad hardness availability. Processable by extrusion and moulding, compatible with food contact and medical applications (depending on formulation).

Shore A hardness20 – 90
Temperature range-60 °C / 200 °C
Peak temperature315 °C
Density (g/cm³)1.11 – 1.20
Tensile strength (MPa)6.0 – 9.0
Elongation at break (%)100 – 1000
Tear strength (kN/m)17.0 – 30.0
Curing systemPlatinum
Processing methodExtrusion and Moulding
Base colourNatural / Transparent
Available coloursRAL colours on request

Applications

  • Tubes (Øint 0.5–145 mm), profiles (cords, square, rectangular), moulded parts and industrial or medical applications.

Certifications and technical standards

  • FDA 21 CFR §177.2600
  • BfR IX and XV
  • CE 1935/2004
  • ISO 10993 (depending on formulation)
  • USP Class VI
  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH compliant
  • NF ISO 7619-1
  • NF ISO 37
  • NF ISO 34-1
  • NF ISO 2781
  • ISO 3302 (M2/E1/L2)

Series 16 – Fire-retardant self-extinguishing peroxide silicone (EN 45545-2)

Series 16 is a peroxide-catalysed silicone blend, processable by extrusion and moulding, designed specifically to provide excellent fire resistance and self-extinguishing properties. It complies with railway standard EN 45545-2 version 2020 (Requirements R22 and R23, levels HL1, HL2 and HL3), which makes it the ideal choice for sealing gaskets, profiles and parts in environments where fire safety is critical.

Peroxide-catalysed technical silicone with fire-retardant formulation optimised for the railway sector. It complies with R22/R23 requirements of EN 45545-2:2020 (HL1, HL2, HL3). Processable by extrusion, it offers high thermal resistance, mechanical stability and low emission of smoke and toxic gases.

Shore A hardness30 – 85
Temperature range-60 °C / 200 °C
Density (g/cm³)1.09 – 1.26
Tensile strength (MPa)5.0 – 9.0
Elongation at break (%)380 – 850
Tear strength (kN/m)17.0 – 25.0
Oxygen index (LOI)32.7
Smoke density (Ds max)84.7
ITC / Hazard Level0.06
Railway hazard levelHL1, HL2, HL3
Catalysis typePeroxide
Processing methodExtrusion and moulding
Base colourBlack / Blue-black (RAL 9017 / RAL 5004)
Available coloursBlack (RAL 9017), Blue-black (RAL 5004)

Applications

  • Railway applications (seals, profiles, gaskets, thermal protections, insulation panels).

Certifications and technical standards

  • EN 45545-2 R22/R23 HL1-HL2-HL3
  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH compliant
  • NF EN 45545-2:2020
  • EN ISO 4589-2 (O₂ Index 32.7%)
  • EN ISO 5659-2 (Ds max 84.7)
  • EN 17084 (ITC PNL 0.06)
ISO 8 cleanroom · France

Food-grade and medical inflatable seals are extruded in a cleanroom

When the inflatable seal uses a platinum formulation with FDA, CE 1935/2004 or USP Class VI certification — for sealing on food process lines, diagnostic equipment or pharmaceutical chambers — the base profile is extruded in the ISO 8 cleanroom at Progress Silicones in France (550 m² validated to ISO 14644-1). The closing welding and the cone overmoulding are carried out in the same controlled environment to preserve contact purity through to delivery.

Catalogue

Products related to the inflatable seal

Do you need a TIXAN'AIR® inflatable seal?

Send us the data for your application: required sealing pressure, GAP between surfaces, expansion direction, working environment and type of mounting. We will advise on the most suitable profile, hardness and accessories. The PDF catalogue includes the full dimensional detail, the overmoulded-cone tables, the available valves and the fitting instructions.