Elastomers
- December 02, 2022
New GFS Tech Bulletins Now Available
Common O-Ring Elastomer Properties "Cheat Sheet"
While there are dozens of unique elastomers used for specific applications throughout the world, this GFS "elastomer cheat sheet" discusses the properties of the most common types of o-ring elastomers. If your equipment or product uses o-rings, it more-than-likely contains one of these nine elastomer types.
Learn about:
- Thermal properties of the nine most common o-ring elastomers
- Advantages and disadvantages of each elastomer
- Comparison of the properties/resistances of each o-ring elastomer
Surface Finish Ra Advantages and Disadvantages Tech Bulletin
As we continue the GFS series on Surface Finish, this next tech bulletin will help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used method of measuring surface finish: Ra
It monitors production and is a very stable and
- October 14, 2022
O-Ring Failure Modes Tech Bulletin Now Available
Failure modes are the ways, or modes, in which something might fail. O-ring failure modes that contribute to equipment failure cost the customer time and money. A premature O-ring failure in service is often due to a combination of root causes and not merely a single failure mode.
The Gallagher Fluid Seals O-Ring Failure Mode Tech Bulletin will discuss the 8 most common types of failure modes for o-ring applications. They are:
- Compression set
- Extrusion & nibbling
- Spiral failure
- Explosive decompression
- March 23, 2022
Natural Rubber Short Supply
Plagued by global supply chain issues stemming from coronavirus and environmental issues, the natural rubber shortage continues to be exasperated by the war in Ukraine and Russia.
In 2021, shortages were reported mainly due to flooding and leaf disease. A poor crop led to a decrease in the cultivation of these highly desirable trees. The supply for raw gum already was expected to remain tight for several years due to the 7-year maturity period for the trees, but the unfavorable seasonal crop significantly affected the availability of rubber.
This blog article will also dive into the short supply of carbon black and its affect on the rubber availablity on a global scale.
- February 24, 2022
components their machines need in order to operate and produce their desired end product. The ways that tooling impacts a manufacturing operation are imperative. Not only is the tooling of your own manufacturing important, but also of the tools themselves that will be a part of your own operation. It’s necessary to have components that have been tooled to specifications, have high quality, and will perform under stress.
Potential Effects of Tooling
The end result of your operation’s tooling is going to affect every aspect of the business and its success. If an operation has been improperly tooled, then it will inevitably have a less efficient running cost, slowing things down. When an improperly tooled machine fails, it can have disastrous consequences, not limited to time lost, loss of product, and potential hazard to employees or customers.
- January 14, 2022
Custom Seals from Gallagher Fluid Seals
While you could buy seals made with the size and materials of industry standards, sometimes the performance may not be up-to-snuff. Whether you have a static or a dynamic application, each one has its own unique traits and characteristics. Rather than finding a product that "fills the needs" of your specific application, wouldn't it be more prudent to create the perfect solution?
Using custom-engineered seals from GFS, specific to your application, can help solve that.
Size
No matter the size, Gallagher can assist. Whether less than 1 millimeter or dozens of inches of diameter, our expert engineering team can help design the solution for the exact dimensions you need. Our ability to have the exact sizes and designs fabricated with our global partnerships can help you get it for the right price, too.
- June 09, 2021
The environmental demands placed on the hydraulic systems in large, heavy equipment can be extreme. Pressure, abrasive fluids, extreme temperatures and dirt can all impact the reliability and performance of the seals used to protect their mechanics. Fortunately for manufacturers producing construction, agricultural and mining machinery – among other, heavy-duty industrial applications – Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ proprietary 94 AU30000 polyurethane provides an outstanding solution.
The success distributors have witnessed with 94 AU30000 seals is attributed to several key benefits. Sealing solutions made from the AU30000 material are not only resistant to water and synthetic hydraulic fluids but can handle major temperature and pressure fluctuations better than any other existing polyurethane on the market. They also offer very high extrusion resistance, allowing them to last longer under more challenging applications than other solutions
- April 28, 2021
In the Oil & Gas industry, the need for elastomers to seal higher pressures for sustained periods of time with minimal damage is abounding. Applications such as drilling tools, completions equipment, blow out preventers, and subsea pressure control systems now routinely require or exceed 15,000 psi with both liquid and gas media for functional testing and qualification. Parker meets this challenge, providing a best-in-class extrusion and rapid gas decompression resistant hydrogenated nitrile (HNBR) compound called KB292.
One of the most common failure modes for seals utilized in high pressure applications is known as extrusion or nibbling. This failure method emerges when the seal material is forced into a clearance gap that is present between the mating substrates and gradually can be cut, nicked, or chewed away.
- April 13, 2021
Have you been frustrated with going through multiple design iterations when rubber components are failing due to high stresses or your device has been leaking due to insufficient compression? Have you lost months and months of precious time having to recut tools and make design changes?
FEA takes out the guesswork
Finite element analysis, also known as FEA, is an effective tool used in design iterations. It allows for different design ideas, options, and alterations to be quickly, effectively, and precisely compared.
Using FEA can improve both the speed and quality of product design as well as reduce the overall cost. Rubber parts, such as silicone diaphragms, septums, seals, valves, tubing, and balloons are critical components in today’s medical devices that can benefit from the use of FEA.
- November 13, 2020
In this brief blog, we will go over the high-level aspects regarding injection molding - what it is, the benefits, and how it generally works. Give us a shout if you think it might be a great fit for your next project or application!
What is injection molding?
Injection molding is a way to manufacture and produce parts in large quantities. It is often used in production scenarios where the exact same part is being produced over and over again in the thousands.
The main advantage of using injection molding is the ability to scale production in enormous portions, resulting in price per unit becoming much lower. While the initial investment may come with some added costs, it will eventually for itself over time and ultimately result in profit.
- August 19, 2020
Strict hygiene regulations in the food industry present major challenges for sealing technology. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is enhancing its proven portfolio of hygienic sealing solutions with two products that are also designed for high-pressure applications. This was made possible thanks to special design solutions and the premium elastomer and PTFE materials developed in-house.
Food processing demands strict hygiene and cleanliness standards. It’s also important to ensure that no substances can migrate from the materials coming in contact with food, which could lead to contamination of the product. With its hygienic product line, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed sealing solutions that fulfill food industry standards and are also resistant to CIP/SIP media. The Hygienic Forseal and Hygienic Pressure Seal are the newest members of this innovative product family.
One of the basic requirements for sealing solutions in accordance with the hygienic design standards is a dead-space-free construction. It prevents the collection and settling of product residues and micro-organisms in undercuts, for example. The selection of applied materials and their resistance to hot water, steam, acids, alkalis and high pressures are also relevant. Observing the deformation at the relevant temperature plays a particularly important role in detecting distortions and the associated formation of dead spaces at an early stage in the product development.