The new gasket establishes a hermetic interface between the chassis chamber and the module's heat exchanger, isolating the cooling airflow path from sensitive electronic components.
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 is compatible with forced-air thermal management strategies widely implemented in avionics, radar and surveillance systems, command and control electronics, and weapons and ground vehicle platforms.
A key design element is a dual-hardness durometer structure with a 1° taper. This configuration promotes uniform compression and a reliable seal within a recommended deflection window of 0.008 in (0.2 mm) to 0.030 in (0.76 mm). The engineered geometry helps maintain airtight performance through fluctuating pressures and temperatures for reliable insulation of the cooling path under demanding operating conditions. The silicone elastomers fully comply with AA-59588, confirming they meet the performance requirements of military and aerospace applications.
“Our latest AFT chassis seal provides system designers with a robust sealing solution that meets ANSI/VITA 48.5-2026 AFT requirements,” says Jesse Hagar, product manager at Parker Chomerics. “In defense and aerospace electronics, maintaining a controlled airflow path is critical to ensuring reliable forced-air thermal management. This new chassis seal allows engineers to protect high-value computing assets while simplifying installation and maintenance.”.
The gasket frame is constructed of anodized aluminum in accordance with MIL PRF 8625 Type III, Class 1. Additionally, a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) coating reduces friction during module insertion and removal. This construction ensures durability and repeatability in rugged embedded computing platforms. Notably, the new seal is listed in ANSI/VITA 48.5-2026 as a suggested source, providing added assurance for program qualification and specification.
Available in 0.175 in (4.45 mm) and 0.375 in (9.53 mm) widths for both inlet and outlet designs, the product integrates seamlessly into AFT cooling architectures. Complementary components, including air gasket retaining blocks, blanks, and orifice plates, are also available to support complete system implementation. While designed to meet the latest ANSI/VITA 48.5-2026 requirements, the gasket is not compatible with legacy ANSI/VITA 48.5-2010 (R2017) configurations.
