Chassis seal ensures leak-tight performance in defence and aerospace systems

Designed for embedded computing architectures in defence and aerospace applications, the new seal establishes a leak-tight interface between the chassis plenum and module heat exchanger, isolating the path of cooling airflow from sensitive electronics.

By preventing contaminated airflow from reaching critical electronic assemblies, CHO-AIR VITA 48.5 protects systems operating in harsh environments where exposure to moisture, dirt and salt can compromise reliability. The seal supports forced-air thermal management strategies widely deployed in avionics, radar and surveillance systems, command and control electronics, and ground vehicle and weapon platforms.

Central to the design is a dual-durometer elastomer construction featuring a 1 degree taper. This configuration promotes uniform compression and reliable sealing within a recommended deflection window of 0.008" (0.2 mm) to 0.030" (0.76 mm). The engineered geometry helps sustain air-tight performance across fluctuating pressures and temperatures for dependable cooling path isolation under demanding operational conditions. The silicone elastomers conform fully with A-A-59588, affirming they meet the performance requirements of military and aerospace applications.

"Our latest AFT chassis seal provides system designers with a robust sealing solution compliant to ANSI/VITA 48.5-2026 AFT requirements," says Jesse Hagar, Product Manager, Parker Chomerics. "In defence and aerospace electronics, maintaining a controlled airflow path is critical to ensure reliable forced-air thermal management. This new chassis seal enables engineers to protect high-value computing assets while simplifying installation and maintenance."

The seal frame is manufactured from aluminium anodised in accordance with MIL PRF 8625 Type III, Class 1. In addition, an FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) coating reduces friction during module insertion and removal. This construction supports durability and repeatability in rugged embedded computing platforms. Notably, the new seal is listed on the ANSI/VITA 48.5-2026 standard as a suggested source, providing additional assurance for programme qualification and specification.

Available in 0.175" (4.45mm) and 0.375" (9.53mm) widths, for both inlet and exhaust designs, the product integrates seamlessly into AFT cooling architectures.

Complementary components, including air seal retainer blocks, blanks and orifice plates, are also available to support complete system implementation. While engineered to meet the latest ANSI/VITA 48.5-2026 requirements, the seal is not compatible with legacy ANSI/VITA 48.5-2010 (R2017) configurations.