Mouser Electronics White Paper
Latching and Sealing
The manner in which connectors mate and
lock in place determines their resistance to
shock and vibration. MIL-STD-202 defines
many of the requirements that connectors
must meet. Latches need to securely lock
connectors in the mated position, while
remaining low profile and field friendly.
Seals, including O-rings, gaskets, and
grommets, must prevent the ingress of
dust, moisture, and other contaminants.
The International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) has developed two-digit
ingress protection (IP) ratings (Figure 4),
which are used to define a device's
environmental sealing performance.
Many A&D systems require IP67-rated
connectors to ensure that water and dust
cannot compromise performance, while
devices intended for immersion require
IP68. Most connectors are sealed only in
the mated condition; unmated connectors
require protective caps to maintain their
sealing integrity. To deliver the required
IP rating, latching and sealing systems
work together, ensuring that connectors
are protected against the environment.
Molex has decades of experience
in delivering connector solutions for
A&D applications. The addition of the
AirBorn connector portfolio strengthens
the company's ability to deliver high-
performance solutions that meet MIL-SPEC
standards, supporting environmentally
demanding mission-critical designs.
Figure 4: The IP ratings guide grades a device's resistance to dust and liquids. (Source: Mouser Electronics)
