Quality security seals

In a society where theft and vandalism runs rampant, quality security seals have become an invaluable tool to protect our precious goods, freight and cargo. There are a number of factors that need to be taken into account when choosing the correct security seal for the application but we always start with sourcing good quality products, able to resist and also expose any tampering. Quality security seals are manufactured with materials that have the properties to compliment the function.

Many of the seals in our range are constructed from specialised polypropylene and ABS plastics. Padlock security seals, FX security seals, Pitbull security seals and THL security seals are all examples of locking devices that have polypropylene bodies. While cable seals and bolt seals are manufactured with high impact ABS plastics able to withstand aggressive attacks. So what’s so special about these versatile plastics and why are they used to create our high quality security seals?

Polypropylene (PP) is the most commonly used substance in the manufacturing process of security seals. It is a thermoplastic polymer with the chemical formula (C3H6)n. It was first invented in 1951 by Paul Hogan and Robert Banks, then, in 1954 the resin was further developed and modified by Giulio Natta so that it was able to form a crystallised structure. It became viable and available for commercial application by 1957 and is now one of the most widely used plastics today and it is known as a “commodity plastic”.

Polypropylene has the perfect combination of properties that make it the ideal plastic to use in the manufacture of quality security seals.

Characteristics of this adaptable substance include:

• Hardiness, pliability and a high resistance to fatigue. It retains its form despite repeated bending and flexing.
• Relatively low density, ranging from 0,89 to 0,92gms per cubic centimetre, making it lightweight.
• It is chemically resistant to weak oxidation agents and organic solvents at low and normal temperatures.
• It is unaffected by diluted bases and acids
• It is a thermoplastic and has a temperature melting point of roughly 130 degree Celsius. Being repeatedly melted and cooled does not result in degradation, making it ideal for recycling.
• Polypropylene has a number of other advantages that benefit its use in the security seal industry.
• PP is relatively inexpensive
• It is resistant to environmental dampness
• It has excellent impact strength, with a tensile strength of 32 MPa (4700PSI) and a flexural strength of 41 MPa (6000PSI)
• Its easy to customise and easy to mold
• It can be dyed and it retains its colour

The high security devices in our quality security seal range are manufactured with ABS plastics. Cable seals and bolt seals all have durable ABS plastic bodies.

ABS plastic, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is an opaque, common, impact resistant and amorphous thermoplastic polymer. ABS plastic liquifies in high heat making it ideal for easy moulding and also recycling.
ABS polymer draws its properties from the various chemical components of which it is comprised. Acrylonitrile ensures high chemical resistance and heat stability. Butadiene gives it impact strength even in low temperatures. Styrene makes it processable.

ABS plastic is also:

• highly rigid and strong
• abrasion resistant
• easy to use in molds and 3D printers
• can have a pigment added
• It has excellent impact strength, with a tensile strength of 28-120 MPa and a flexural strength of 50-162 MPa
• it is resistant to weak acids and alkali
• its affordable
• it is relatively kind to the environment, recyclable, biocompatible and non-toxic.

Another material used in the manufacture of quality security seals is steel. Steel is produce by combining iron and carbon, making it much hardier than iron.
We use tin-plated steel in our Dominator seal, non-preformed galvanised steel in our cable seals and bolt and stainless steel in our padlock seals.

Tin-plated steel is coated in tin. The steel is either dipped in steel or applied by electrodeposition. Tin is extremely durable, flexible and soft, doesn’t break and is easily applicable to other metals, including copper, aluminium and stainless and regular steel. Tin-plated steel is rust-proof, non-toxic and cheap, while still having the same strength as steel.

Galvanised steel is coated with a layer zinc to prevent corrosion. It is very durable, scratch resistant, malleable, weldable and recyclable. It is lighter in weight than stainless steel.
Galvanised steel lasts between 30 to 100 years.

Stainless steel contains chromium is also extremely resistant to heat and oxidation, however it is more expensive.

Good quality security seals embody or compliment the attributes of their construct materials, as durability and strength are vital to the integrity of each device. Here at Seals Online, we are proud of and stand by our excellent workmanship. If you are searching for the seal you can trust, you’ve come to the right place.