- Email: [email protected]
Bob's bit
NEWS It adheres well to metals, composites and many plastics. As a silicone-based system it is also flexible and, to a degree, “reworkable”. This off-white coloured silicone is available in 130-g (100-cc) tubes and has a shelf life of six months when stored at room temperature. Contact: Master Bond Inc, 154 Hobart Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, USA. Tel: +1 201 343 8983, Fax: +1 201 343 2132, Web: www.masterbond.com
InventHelp inventor develops multipurpose tool for pipe-fitters
U
S-based inventor service company InventHelp is attempting to submit to appropriate companies for their review details of a device that offers assistance with laying out piping systems. The patent-pending device, called ‘Fitters Friend’, was developed to make it easier to tighten and loosen nuts, bolts and fasteners, as well as piping. It aligns flanges and gaskets, and also cuts pipe insulation. According to the company, the device’s inventor, who is from Queens, New York, said: ‘I invented this because it becomes a safety hazard when you are climbing with multiple tools in your pockets. I use a variety of tools in my job as an industrial mechanic, and I climb up and down ladders. My tool combines several items into one.’ The versatile design ends the need to carry around many different tools. It also saves time and effort. The original design was submitted to InventHelp’s office in Long Island, New York. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. Contact: InventHelp (Department 12-LGI-1670), 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA. Tel: +1 412 288 1300 (ext. 1368), Web: www.InventHelp.com
Garlock launches redesigned butterfly valves
A
ddressing the need in North America for chemically resistant butterfly valves with ultra-low fugitive emissions and improved reliability, the Garlock family of companies has
announced the return of its original line of butterfly valves and the launch of its new and improved product. Launched in March, the line includes four premium butterfly valve designs – Gar-Seal, Sterile-Seal, Safety-Seal and Mobile-Seal – for use with corrosive and abrasive media, together with a wide-range of accessories. ‘The release of the Garlock butterfly valve line is something we have been looking forward to here at the Garlock family of companies,’ commented Sarah Young, Product Manager, Diaphragms and Valves, Garlock. ‘We are happy to be working with and promoting this familiar technology again and we expect it will make a big impact on customers in the chemical and petrochemicals industries looking for improved reliability or the lowest fugitive emissions.’ All four Garlock butterfly valves feature a new ultra-low fugitive emission design, compliant with ISO 15848-1 Leakage Rate A, as well as TA-Luft, and are certified as suitable for use in an SIL 3 environment. The product line is offered with a wide range of accessories, including standard handles, locking handles, gear operators and air actuators. Standard handles are available in a size range of 2–8 inches (51–203 mm), whilst locking handle assemblies range from 2 inches to 4 inches (51–102 mm), and both gear operators and air actuators are offered in all dimensions. The range is also available with a wide-range of liner options, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ‘‘abrasive PTFE’’, anti-static PTFE and ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Contacts: Garlock Sealing Technologies Llc, 1666 Division Street, Palmyra, NY 14522-9383, USA. Tel: +1 315 597 4811, Fax: +1 315 597 3216, Web: www.garlock.com EnPro Industries Inc, 5605 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209-4674, USA. Tel: +1 704 731 1500, Fax: +1 704 731 1511, Web: www.enproindustries.com
New generation of polyurethane targets sealing applications
F
reudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies recently introduced a new generation of polyurethane which, it claims, is expected to set new standards for the sealing industry. The material was developed for a wide array of uses. According to the company, it is more resistant to water and is better able to withstand
BOB’S BIT
T
he May 2003 issue of Sealing Technology contained a ‘hello’ from the new editor. One of the aims I included was to try to provide some more informed comment on the content of the newsletter. I hope that objective has been achieved over the last eleven years. During that time I have been very encouraged by the number of positive comments on the newsletter, and it is always a surprise to learn that readers appreciate this column. The presentation has changed quite a lot: we now have colour and electronic format, which means my old 2003 copy now looks quite dated. However, we still have the familiar content of news, technical features and patents. But one thing will be changing as this will be my last edition with direct involvement in the monthly production of Sealing Technology. Over the last two or three years Simon Atkinson has gradually been taking over an increasing proportion of the journal content. Hopefully this has been sufficiently successful that you have hardly noticed. In the last eleven years we have seen a lot of progress in virtually all areas of sealing. Mechanical seals have progressed, with the application of gas-seal manufacturing techniques to liquid seals where improved lubrication is required, and the promise of high volume designs in the near future. We have seen the introduction of lowenergy rotary shaft lip seals and many designs of flexible plastic types. Reciprocating seals are now expected to operate on alternative surface coatings, but perhaps the most encouraging aspect has been the progress in the development of mathematical analysis and experimental techniques that give us improved understanding of how these seals work. Gasket designs have been improved to provide better performance with lower loads and flanges in less than perfect condition, whilst the best performing valve packing can provide the sort of emissions control we would only have dreamed of a few years ago. We have managed to include articles on many of these developments, so a big thank you is due to all of you who have provided both news and technical features. It has been encouraging to work with so many friends and colleagues from across the industry. And, I trust that you will continue to support Simon with a similar enthusiasm in the future. Is it worthwhile? Well the number of article downloads suggest that we are very widely read. In addition to technical developments there is still a big education job required. From my Continued on page 4...
3 April 2014
Sealing Technology
NEWS
BOB’S BIT ...Continued from page 3 consultancy projects in the last few years there is usually one of the following themes: Even for quite demanding applications the seals may be purchased through a distributor with little regard for the detail of what is being supplied. To meet a specific perceived problem one will often see ‘viton’ specified without any appreciation of the huge range of potential polymers, or the realisation it is the trade name for a single supplier’s polymers. There is a perception that a seal, well actually seals. That virtually any dynamic seal involves some fluid film transfer can be an enormous surprise. Although we have seen considerable progress with the development of low temperature fluoroelastomer products, users can still experience problems. There has been a tendency for quite a few well established seal manufacturers to become very sales oriented. Customers may only meet a sales person who, in difficult applications, may not have an appreciation of the complexities of the duty. A standard product gets offered that will not meet the requirements. The suppliers that provide the best overall technical solutions to problems are those where there is still a strong integration between sales and technical staff. And, there are numerous good ideas that are desperately in need of a suitable sealing technology to turn them into a viable product. And talking of the future, you should probably still hear from me occasionally, and I expect to attend the occasional conferences. It is not possible to switch off a lifetime’s interest! Will I have anything else to do? Well we are fortunate enough to have about 1.5 ha (3.5 acres) of garden and woodland to play with and our camper van for exploring further afield. Very best wishes to you all, thank you for all the support I have received, and I look forward to meeting many of you somewhere in the future, but for now – we have some beautiful spring weather and lots to do outside. Bob Flitney
4
Sealing Technology
major temperature fluctuations than existing polyurethanes. ‘This is the best polyurethane for seals that has ever reached the market,’ said Dr Jürgen Hieber, who heads up materials development at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ Schwalmstadt plant in Germany. Polyurethane is primarily known in applications such as foam for door frames and mattresses, and is also used in paints and adhesives. However, it is also important for the production of seals that perform tasks under especially severe conditions, says Freudenberg. Along with excellent resistance to ozone, it has four times the robustness of elastomers. It also effectively withstands exposure to mineral fluids. Polyurethane seals are mainly used in heavyduty machinery such as excavators and tractors. Freudenberg’s development of its own materials is an important core competency for the company. ‘We produce the basic materials for our seals ourselves so we are not dependent on suppliers,’ said Mathias Burkert, a product manager based at Schwalmstadt. ‘We have succeeded in manufacturing a basic material for seals with a far longer operating life than the current materials used.’ The usage spectrum for the new polyurethane ranges between -40°C and +120°C. This was made possible by a specific modification of the polyurethane components responsible for its temperature characteristics. It resulted in the material’s particularly favourable viscoelastic behaviour. In practice, this means that seals made from this material stay flexible at low temperatures and sufficiently stable at high temperatures. In this way, development engineers take into account changing market requirements. The latest generation of polyurethane seals is especially well suited to construction and agricultural machinery, as well as materialshandling equipment, which require high-performance materials that are capable of enduring long periods of operation. ‘We have achieved the objectives of being more robust and lasting longer,’ added Burkert. Common parts, which are universally usable and help to lower costs are mandatory for new designs. The latest generation of polyurethane is a universally usable material that fulfils these requirements. Until now, manufacturers often had to store different versions of components – such as hydraulic cylinders – depending on the location around the world where they were due to be used, and on the medium that the hydraulic system employed. ‘Today construction equipment is developed for global use. Seals must function in the Arctic as well as the desert, and perform their tasks reliably for years. The new generation of polyurethane is designed precisely for such requirements,’ said Burkert.
Dr Hieber continued: ‘The new material is superior to other polyurethanes in all relevant areas. It offers superb performance in heat and cold, can be used in mineral hydraulic fluids at up to 120°C, and is safe from damage caused by hydrolysis – even when used in water heated to 80°C.’ Whilst conventional standard polyurethanes often give way after several months of operation under these conditions, the new mixture lasts many times longer and ensures the capacity of the equipment to do its job. The material is also a genuine high performer when it comes to pressure, says the company. In a comparison test, with various extrusion gaps at 40 MPa and 100°C, seals using this latest generation of polyurethane showed no appreciable signs of wear, whilst conventional seals malfunctioned prematurely. Its tensile strength also far surpasses current possibilities – measuring around 25 MPa, or 35% higher than other materials. ‘As a result, we can apply much more pressure on the cylinders than we could previously,’ said Dr Hieber. Experts at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies say they were able to double extrusion stability under high pressures. This avoids damage from any pressure peaks, which can be particularly evident in highly stressed equipment such as construction machinery. This is good news for the sealing specialist’s customers. They can rely on a product that meets the highest technical demands and allows long, maintenance-free operating cycles — under tough operating conditions. ‘We expect our product to last three to four times longer than the others,’ concluded Dr Hieber. Contact: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co Kg, Hoehnerweg 2–4, 69469 Weinheim, Germany. Tel: +49 6201 80 2366, Fax: +49 6201 88 7467, Web: www.fst.com/de Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, 47690 East Anchor Court, Plymouth, MI 48170-2455, USA. Tel: +1 734 451 0020, Fax: +1 734 451 2547, Web: www.fnst.com
James Walker supplies Gore products to biopharmaceuticals customers
J
ames Walker & Co Ltd now supplies W.L. Gore & Associates Inc’s latest Sta-Pure expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) range of gaskets and
April 2014
InventHelp inventor develops multipurpose tool for pipe-fitters
U
S-based inventor service company InventHelp is attempting to submit to appropriate companies for their review details of a device that offers assistance with laying out piping systems. The patent-pending device, called ‘Fitters Friend’, was developed to make it easier to tighten and loosen nuts, bolts and fasteners, as well as piping. It aligns flanges and gaskets, and also cuts pipe insulation. According to the company, the device’s inventor, who is from Queens, New York, said: ‘I invented this because it becomes a safety hazard when you are climbing with multiple tools in your pockets. I use a variety of tools in my job as an industrial mechanic, and I climb up and down ladders. My tool combines several items into one.’ The versatile design ends the need to carry around many different tools. It also saves time and effort. The original design was submitted to InventHelp’s office in Long Island, New York. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. Contact: InventHelp (Department 12-LGI-1670), 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA. Tel: +1 412 288 1300 (ext. 1368), Web: www.InventHelp.com
Garlock launches redesigned butterfly valves
A
ddressing the need in North America for chemically resistant butterfly valves with ultra-low fugitive emissions and improved reliability, the Garlock family of companies has
announced the return of its original line of butterfly valves and the launch of its new and improved product. Launched in March, the line includes four premium butterfly valve designs – Gar-Seal, Sterile-Seal, Safety-Seal and Mobile-Seal – for use with corrosive and abrasive media, together with a wide-range of accessories. ‘The release of the Garlock butterfly valve line is something we have been looking forward to here at the Garlock family of companies,’ commented Sarah Young, Product Manager, Diaphragms and Valves, Garlock. ‘We are happy to be working with and promoting this familiar technology again and we expect it will make a big impact on customers in the chemical and petrochemicals industries looking for improved reliability or the lowest fugitive emissions.’ All four Garlock butterfly valves feature a new ultra-low fugitive emission design, compliant with ISO 15848-1 Leakage Rate A, as well as TA-Luft, and are certified as suitable for use in an SIL 3 environment. The product line is offered with a wide range of accessories, including standard handles, locking handles, gear operators and air actuators. Standard handles are available in a size range of 2–8 inches (51–203 mm), whilst locking handle assemblies range from 2 inches to 4 inches (51–102 mm), and both gear operators and air actuators are offered in all dimensions. The range is also available with a wide-range of liner options, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ‘‘abrasive PTFE’’, anti-static PTFE and ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Contacts: Garlock Sealing Technologies Llc, 1666 Division Street, Palmyra, NY 14522-9383, USA. Tel: +1 315 597 4811, Fax: +1 315 597 3216, Web: www.garlock.com EnPro Industries Inc, 5605 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209-4674, USA. Tel: +1 704 731 1500, Fax: +1 704 731 1511, Web: www.enproindustries.com
New generation of polyurethane targets sealing applications
F
reudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies recently introduced a new generation of polyurethane which, it claims, is expected to set new standards for the sealing industry. The material was developed for a wide array of uses. According to the company, it is more resistant to water and is better able to withstand
BOB’S BIT
T
he May 2003 issue of Sealing Technology contained a ‘hello’ from the new editor. One of the aims I included was to try to provide some more informed comment on the content of the newsletter. I hope that objective has been achieved over the last eleven years. During that time I have been very encouraged by the number of positive comments on the newsletter, and it is always a surprise to learn that readers appreciate this column. The presentation has changed quite a lot: we now have colour and electronic format, which means my old 2003 copy now looks quite dated. However, we still have the familiar content of news, technical features and patents. But one thing will be changing as this will be my last edition with direct involvement in the monthly production of Sealing Technology. Over the last two or three years Simon Atkinson has gradually been taking over an increasing proportion of the journal content. Hopefully this has been sufficiently successful that you have hardly noticed. In the last eleven years we have seen a lot of progress in virtually all areas of sealing. Mechanical seals have progressed, with the application of gas-seal manufacturing techniques to liquid seals where improved lubrication is required, and the promise of high volume designs in the near future. We have seen the introduction of lowenergy rotary shaft lip seals and many designs of flexible plastic types. Reciprocating seals are now expected to operate on alternative surface coatings, but perhaps the most encouraging aspect has been the progress in the development of mathematical analysis and experimental techniques that give us improved understanding of how these seals work. Gasket designs have been improved to provide better performance with lower loads and flanges in less than perfect condition, whilst the best performing valve packing can provide the sort of emissions control we would only have dreamed of a few years ago. We have managed to include articles on many of these developments, so a big thank you is due to all of you who have provided both news and technical features. It has been encouraging to work with so many friends and colleagues from across the industry. And, I trust that you will continue to support Simon with a similar enthusiasm in the future. Is it worthwhile? Well the number of article downloads suggest that we are very widely read. In addition to technical developments there is still a big education job required. From my Continued on page 4...
3 April 2014
Sealing Technology
NEWS
BOB’S BIT ...Continued from page 3 consultancy projects in the last few years there is usually one of the following themes: Even for quite demanding applications the seals may be purchased through a distributor with little regard for the detail of what is being supplied. To meet a specific perceived problem one will often see ‘viton’ specified without any appreciation of the huge range of potential polymers, or the realisation it is the trade name for a single supplier’s polymers. There is a perception that a seal, well actually seals. That virtually any dynamic seal involves some fluid film transfer can be an enormous surprise. Although we have seen considerable progress with the development of low temperature fluoroelastomer products, users can still experience problems. There has been a tendency for quite a few well established seal manufacturers to become very sales oriented. Customers may only meet a sales person who, in difficult applications, may not have an appreciation of the complexities of the duty. A standard product gets offered that will not meet the requirements. The suppliers that provide the best overall technical solutions to problems are those where there is still a strong integration between sales and technical staff. And, there are numerous good ideas that are desperately in need of a suitable sealing technology to turn them into a viable product. And talking of the future, you should probably still hear from me occasionally, and I expect to attend the occasional conferences. It is not possible to switch off a lifetime’s interest! Will I have anything else to do? Well we are fortunate enough to have about 1.5 ha (3.5 acres) of garden and woodland to play with and our camper van for exploring further afield. Very best wishes to you all, thank you for all the support I have received, and I look forward to meeting many of you somewhere in the future, but for now – we have some beautiful spring weather and lots to do outside. Bob Flitney
4
Sealing Technology
major temperature fluctuations than existing polyurethanes. ‘This is the best polyurethane for seals that has ever reached the market,’ said Dr Jürgen Hieber, who heads up materials development at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ Schwalmstadt plant in Germany. Polyurethane is primarily known in applications such as foam for door frames and mattresses, and is also used in paints and adhesives. However, it is also important for the production of seals that perform tasks under especially severe conditions, says Freudenberg. Along with excellent resistance to ozone, it has four times the robustness of elastomers. It also effectively withstands exposure to mineral fluids. Polyurethane seals are mainly used in heavyduty machinery such as excavators and tractors. Freudenberg’s development of its own materials is an important core competency for the company. ‘We produce the basic materials for our seals ourselves so we are not dependent on suppliers,’ said Mathias Burkert, a product manager based at Schwalmstadt. ‘We have succeeded in manufacturing a basic material for seals with a far longer operating life than the current materials used.’ The usage spectrum for the new polyurethane ranges between -40°C and +120°C. This was made possible by a specific modification of the polyurethane components responsible for its temperature characteristics. It resulted in the material’s particularly favourable viscoelastic behaviour. In practice, this means that seals made from this material stay flexible at low temperatures and sufficiently stable at high temperatures. In this way, development engineers take into account changing market requirements. The latest generation of polyurethane seals is especially well suited to construction and agricultural machinery, as well as materialshandling equipment, which require high-performance materials that are capable of enduring long periods of operation. ‘We have achieved the objectives of being more robust and lasting longer,’ added Burkert. Common parts, which are universally usable and help to lower costs are mandatory for new designs. The latest generation of polyurethane is a universally usable material that fulfils these requirements. Until now, manufacturers often had to store different versions of components – such as hydraulic cylinders – depending on the location around the world where they were due to be used, and on the medium that the hydraulic system employed. ‘Today construction equipment is developed for global use. Seals must function in the Arctic as well as the desert, and perform their tasks reliably for years. The new generation of polyurethane is designed precisely for such requirements,’ said Burkert.
Dr Hieber continued: ‘The new material is superior to other polyurethanes in all relevant areas. It offers superb performance in heat and cold, can be used in mineral hydraulic fluids at up to 120°C, and is safe from damage caused by hydrolysis – even when used in water heated to 80°C.’ Whilst conventional standard polyurethanes often give way after several months of operation under these conditions, the new mixture lasts many times longer and ensures the capacity of the equipment to do its job. The material is also a genuine high performer when it comes to pressure, says the company. In a comparison test, with various extrusion gaps at 40 MPa and 100°C, seals using this latest generation of polyurethane showed no appreciable signs of wear, whilst conventional seals malfunctioned prematurely. Its tensile strength also far surpasses current possibilities – measuring around 25 MPa, or 35% higher than other materials. ‘As a result, we can apply much more pressure on the cylinders than we could previously,’ said Dr Hieber. Experts at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies say they were able to double extrusion stability under high pressures. This avoids damage from any pressure peaks, which can be particularly evident in highly stressed equipment such as construction machinery. This is good news for the sealing specialist’s customers. They can rely on a product that meets the highest technical demands and allows long, maintenance-free operating cycles — under tough operating conditions. ‘We expect our product to last three to four times longer than the others,’ concluded Dr Hieber. Contact: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co Kg, Hoehnerweg 2–4, 69469 Weinheim, Germany. Tel: +49 6201 80 2366, Fax: +49 6201 88 7467, Web: www.fst.com/de Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, 47690 East Anchor Court, Plymouth, MI 48170-2455, USA. Tel: +1 734 451 0020, Fax: +1 734 451 2547, Web: www.fnst.com
James Walker supplies Gore products to biopharmaceuticals customers
J
ames Walker & Co Ltd now supplies W.L. Gore & Associates Inc’s latest Sta-Pure expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) range of gaskets and
April 2014