- Email: [email protected]
QSR is sold to Lexington Precision Corp
NEWS
Challenger enters Flexitallic’s distributor programme
C
hallenger Industries Inc has been accepted into Flexitallic Group’s Allied Distributor Program. iÝÌ>V]ÊÜ V ÊëiV>ÃiÃÊÊÃÌ>ÌVÊÃi>ing products, says that the company has been an innovative and successful channel partner ÊÌ iÊ `ÜiÃÌÊvÀÊÛiÀÊÌiÊÞi>Àð iÌ Ê iÀ]Ê6ViÊ*ÀiÃ`iÌ]Ê->iÃ]Ê >ÀiÌ}ÊEÊ }iiÀ}]ÊiÝÌ>V]ÊVmented: ‘Recognising Challenger Industries as an Allied Distributor is the next logical step. It has exhibited the values, attributes and consistent growth we look for in our partners.’ The distributor programme selects companies from around the world that consistently demÃÌÀ>ÌiÊiÝÌ>V½ÃÊ« ë ÞÊvÀÊ«ÀÛ`}Ê high-quality products, technical expertise and customer service. Ken Keller, President, Challenger Industries, added: ‘We are proud to have been selected >ÃÊ>Êi`Ê ÃÌÀLÕÌÀÊvÀÊiÝÌ>V°Ê ,i«ÀiÃiÌ}ÊiÝÌ>VÊ>ÌÊÌ ÃÊiÛiÊvviÀÃÊÕÃÊ a competitive edge to help further expand Ì iÊV«>Þ½ÃÊ«À`ÕVÌÃÊ>`ÊÃiÀÛViÃÊÊ ÀÌ Ê Dakota and reinforce our foothold in the oil and gas market in the region.’ Challenger Industries – the twentieth company to be selected as part of the Allied Distributor Program – is uniquely posiÌi`Êi>ÀÊÌ iÊ >iÊ"Ê- >iÊi`ÃÊÊ ÀÌ Ê >Ì>]ÊÜ V Ê >ÃÊLiiÊ>ÊÀi}ÊvÊ exponential growth in the last few years, says iÝÌ>V°
Contact: Flexitallic Lp, 6915 Highway 225, Deer Park, TX 77536, USA. Tel: +1 281 604 2400, Web:www.flexitallic.com
FST groups automotive sealing expertise under new brand
F
reudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co Kg (FST) has grouped its entire automotive sealing expertise under one new brand – Automotive Sealing.
‘With this new brand, we are bundling up our sealing expertise and focusing our range of products and services around the world even more closely on the needs of our customers in the automotive industry. We are homing in on their global strategies and the technological trends in this sector,’ explained Torsten >ÃV i]Ê*ÀiÃ`iÌ]ÊÕÌÌÛiÊ-i>}° In other, unrelated news, Trelleborg Sealing -ÕÌÃÊiÀ>ÞÊLÊ>`ÊÀiÕ`iLiÀ}Ê have completed the formation of their joint venture which will develop and sell antivibration products for light and heavy vehicles. The new concern operates under the name /ÀiiLÀ}6LÀ>VÕÃÌV]Ê>`ÊLÌ Ê«>ÀÌiÀÃÊi>V Ê hold 50% of the new company. Its headquarters >ÀiÊL>Ãi`ÊÊ >ÀÃÌ>`Ì]ÊÃÕÌ ÊvÊÀ>vÕÀÌ]Ê Germany. ‘I am pleased that the joint venture is now operational. We have formed a global leader in anti-vibration technology – a growing segment within the automotive industry,’ comiÌi`Ê*iÌiÀÊ ÃÃ]Ê*ÀiÃ`iÌÊ>`Ê ivÊ Executive Officer, Trelleborg. ‘Trelleborg as a group will be part of an operation with even higher growth and profitability potential than the anti-vibration operation we had before.’ Contacts: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co Kg, Höhnerweg 2–4, 69465 Weinheim/Bergstrasse, Germany. Tel: +49 6201 80 6666, Fax: +49 6201 88 6666, Email: [email protected], Web: www.fst.com Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, Handwerkstrasse 5–7, DE-70565 Stuttgart, Germany. Tel: +49 711 78640, Fax: +49 711 780 3171, www.tss.trelleborg.com/de, Web: www.tbvc.com
QSR is sold to Lexington Precision Corp
H
arris Williams & Co, a middle market investment bank that focuses on the advisory needs of clients worldwide, has announced the sale of Quality Synthetic Rubber Inc (QSR) – a provider of custom moulded synthetic rubber components – to Lexington Precision Corp, a portfolio company of Industrial Growth Partners (IGP).
IN BRIEF ERG launches new Web-site The Energy Rubber Group (ERG) recently >ÕV i`ÊÌÃÊiÜÊ7iLÃÌi°ÊÕ`i`ÊÊ 1980 in Houston, Texas, USA, the group is a unique blend of professionals specialising elastomers – all dedicated to the advancement of rubber technology and education in the energy sector. More information: Web: www.energyrubbergroup.org Freudenberg Group’s management board appoints new speaker Dr Peter Bettermann, who for many years >ÃÊLiiÊ-«i>iÀÊvÊÌ iÊ >>}iiÌÊ >À`Ê >`ÊiiÀ>Ê*>ÀÌiÀÊvÊÀiÕ`iLiÀ}ÊEÊ Co Kommanditgesellschaft of Weinheim, Germany, has officially handed over responÃLÌÞÊÌÊ ÃÊÃÕVViÃÃÀ]Ê ÀÊ ÃiÊ- °Ê Before he joined the board in 2010 Dr Sohi was President and Chief Executive Officer of ÀiÕ`iLiÀ}Ê " ÊiiÀ>Ê*>ÀÌiÀà «]ÊL>Ãi`Ê Ê*ÞÕÌ ]Ê V }>]Ê1-°Ê/ iÊ`iVÃÊÌÊ appoint Dr Sohi had already been taken at a meeting of the board of partners in June 2011. Over the past months Dr Sohi has taken on responsibility for strategic development, portfolio management and for central corporate functions. Dr Bettermann, who celebrated his ÈxÌ ÊLÀÌ `>ÞÊÊ >Þ]ÊÃÊÀiÌÀ}]ÊvÜ}Ê£nÊ years on the company’s board. Hydratight reshapes Americas team Hydratight Ltd says that it has made changes to its management team to shape the business vÀÊ>ÀÊiÝ«>ðÊÀiÀÊiÀV>ÃÊÀi}>Ê LÕÃiÃÃÊi>`iÀÊ ÀÃÊ ÌV iÊÃÊÌÊLiViÊ global vice-president for sales and service – a new role reporting directly to Jan de Koning, President, Hydratight. Taking over as Americas regional business leader is Steve Earney, who has held a variety of roles at the company, most recently as commercial leader for the USA and Canada. Brian Ahrens, previously the sales leader for USA and Canada, becomes the new commercial leader for this region. Chetra GmbH Dichtungstechnik moves to new headquarters German mechanical seals company Chetra GmbH Dichtungstechnik has moved to new headquarters. According to the firm, the new «ÀiÃiÃ]ÊV>Ìi`Êi>ÃÌÊvÊ ÕV ]ÊVÀi>ÃiÊÌÃÊ working space by 60%, optimise production flow and comply with ecological building standards. More information: Chetra GmbH V ÌÕ}ÃÌiV ]Ê >ÀÃÃÌÀ>ÃÃiÊ£]Ênxxx£Ê Kirchheim-Heimstetten, Germany. Tel: +49 nÊÎÓÊ{È{ä]Ê>Ý\ʳ{ÊnÊÎÓÊ{È{Óä]Ê >\Ê [email protected], Web: www.chetra.de
5 September 2012
Sealing Technology
NEWS QSR was a portfolio company of Blue *ÌÊ >«Ì>Ê*>ÀÌiÀðÊ>ÀÀÃÊ7>ÃÊEÊ Ê acted as the exclusive advisor to QSR. ‘Blue Point and QSR’s management team have done a tremendous job building – both organically and through acquisition – this leading, precision moulded elastomeric components company, serving the medical device and electrical connector seal markets,’ said Ê iÕiÀ]Ê >>}}Ê ÀiVÌÀ]Ê>ÀÀÃÊ 7>ÃÊEÊ ° ‘We believe the combination of QSR and Lexington brings together complementary technologies and capabilities that will enable management to continue to expand its customer partnerships and further its domestic and international growth across each of its core medical, industrial and automotive endmarkets.’ With operations in the USA and China, QSR manufactures highly engineered, precision moulded elastomeric components for use in a broad range of medical and electrical connector applications. Through its design and engineering expertise, and internal tooling and a broad range of high consistency rubber and liquid injection-moulding capabilities, it has established itself as an extension of its customers’ design and development teams. These customers rely heavily on QSR for products that are a small part of the cost of the end-product, but are critical to its performance, says Harris Williams. >Ãi`ÊÊ ÀÌ Ê >Ì]Ê" ]Ê iÝ}ÌÊÃÊ a leading manufacturer of precision moulded rubber components. Its products, serving the medical and automotive markets, include seals used in laparoscopic surgical devices and components for medication delivery systems, and insulators that are used in car ignition systems. Blue Point, which has offices in the USA and China, is an established private equity firm managing over $800 million in committed V>«Ì>°ÊÕ`i`ÊÊ£Ç]Ê*ÊÃÊ>ÊëiV>ÃÌ]Ê private equity firm that focuses exclusively on the industrial sector. Contacts: Quality Synthetic Rubber Inc, 1700 Highland Road, Twinsburg, OH 44087, USA. Tel: +1 330 425 8472, Fax: +1 330 425 7976, Web: http://qsr-inc.com Lexington Precision Corp, 3565 Highland Park Street NW, North Canton, OH 44720, USA. Tel: +1 330 305 1040, Web: http://lexingtonprecision.com
6
Sealing Technology
Publications of Interest Study aids selection of materials for use in ethanol-blended gasoline dispensers
A
new study that aims to help designers and users to identify potential issues and guide the selection and development of materials compatible for use in dispensers for ethanol-blended gasoline – up to and including E85 – has been published. This latest work expands a previous study published last year. As reported in Sealing Technology April 2011 (page 3) a research team ÊÌ iÊ1-Ê>ÌÊ">Ê,`}iÊ >Ì>Ê >LÀ>ÌÀÞÊ ", ®ÊV«iÌi`ÊÌ iÊvÀÃÌÊ« >ÃiÊvÊÀiÃi>ÀV Ê investigating the compatibility of fuel dispenser materials with gasoline containing intermediate iÛiÃÊvÊiÌ >Ê £ä]Ê £ÇÊEÊ Óx®°Ê ÌÌi`Ê ‘Intermediate Ethanol Blends Infrastructure >ÌiÀ>ÃÊ «>ÌLÌÞÊ-ÌÕ`Þ\Ê >ÃÌiÀÃ]Ê iÌ>ÃÊ>`Ê-i>>Ìý]ÊÌÊÜ>ÃÊ«Ài«>Ài`ÊÕ`iÀÊ VÌÀ>VÌÊLÞÊ", ÊvÀÊÌ iÊ1-Ê i«>ÀÌiÌÊvÊ Energy (DOE). That report covered elastomer and metal compatibility with gasoline test fuels containing up to 25% ethanol. Since then the authors have expanded the effort to test fuels composed of up to 85% ethanol and have added plastics to the material test matrix. They say the purpose of this latest study was not to define the acceptable limits of material performance or to rate individual materials. Rather, the goal was to measure critical property changes – for example, volume, hardness and mass – for representative classes of fuelling infrastructure materials in ethanol-blend test fluids. According to the authors, the test results are intended to be used by material designers and users to identify potential issues, and guide the selection and development of materials compatible for use in ethanol-blended gasoline dispensers, up to and including E85. The report summarising this follow-up effort, entitled ‘Compatibility Study for Plastic,
>ÃÌiÀV]Ê>`Ê iÌ>VÊÕi}ÊvÀ>ÃÌÀÕVÌÕÀiÊ >ÌiÀ>ÃÊ Ý«Ãi`ÊÌÊ}}ÀiÃÃÛiÊÀÕ>ÌÃÊ of Ethanol-Blended Gasoline’ (prepared LÞÊ V >iÊ °Ê >ÃÃ]Ê/Ì ÞÊ°Ê/ iÃÃ]Ê Christopher J. Janke and Steven J. Pawel), is now available from the US DOE.
Contact: Dr Mike Kass, Fuels, Engines & Emissions, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NTRC Building, 2360 Cherahala Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA. Tel: +1 865 946 1241, Fax: +1 865 946 1354, Email: [email protected], Web: http://feerc.ornl.gov
Editor’s comment: This report (ORNL/ TM-2012/88) is available from the US Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) Information Bridge (Web: www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1039968). The December 2012 issue of Sealing Technology will include an article written by the reports’ authors, entitled: Compatibility of Fueling Infrastructure Elastomers to Test Fuel Formulations Representing Blends of Ethanol and Gasoline.
Conferences and Meetings News Conference discusses use of elastomers and plastics in oilfield engineering
T
he 8th international MERL Oilfield Engineering with Polymers conference and exhibition is scheduled to be held on 23–25 October 2012 in London, UK. The companies behind the event – Applied >ÀiÌÊvÀ>ÌÊ Ì`Ê ®Ê>`ÊÌ iÊ >ÌiÀ>ÃÊ }iiÀ}Ê,iÃi>ÀV Ê >LÀ>ÌÀÞÊ Ì`Ê , ®ÊqÊÃ>ÞÊÌ >ÌÊÌÊ«ÀÛ`iÃÊ>ÊÌiÀ>Ì>Ê forum for oilfield operators, contractors and their suppliers. The technical programme reflects the current challenges and solutions to problems associated with the use of plastics, elastomers and composite materials in oilfield engineering. Specific themes include: super-critical CO2, extreme environments (arctic conditions, HPHT, and sour fluids), new materials, rapid gas decompression, qualification testing, longterm reliability and industry standards. Polymers play a critical role in a range of applications, including coatings, insulation, bonded and flexible pipes, hoses, seals, joints and bearings, inflatable tools, umbilicals, risers and blow-out preventers. There is a welcome reception and exhibition on the first evening of the event, followed by a two-day programme, the details of which can be downloaded from the Web-site at the address given below.
September 2012
Challenger enters Flexitallic’s distributor programme
C
hallenger Industries Inc has been accepted into Flexitallic Group’s Allied Distributor Program. iÝÌ>V]ÊÜ V ÊëiV>ÃiÃÊÊÃÌ>ÌVÊÃi>ing products, says that the company has been an innovative and successful channel partner ÊÌ iÊ `ÜiÃÌÊvÀÊÛiÀÊÌiÊÞi>Àð iÌ Ê iÀ]Ê6ViÊ*ÀiÃ`iÌ]Ê->iÃ]Ê >ÀiÌ}ÊEÊ }iiÀ}]ÊiÝÌ>V]ÊVmented: ‘Recognising Challenger Industries as an Allied Distributor is the next logical step. It has exhibited the values, attributes and consistent growth we look for in our partners.’ The distributor programme selects companies from around the world that consistently demÃÌÀ>ÌiÊiÝÌ>V½ÃÊ« ë ÞÊvÀÊ«ÀÛ`}Ê high-quality products, technical expertise and customer service. Ken Keller, President, Challenger Industries, added: ‘We are proud to have been selected >ÃÊ>Êi`Ê ÃÌÀLÕÌÀÊvÀÊiÝÌ>V°Ê ,i«ÀiÃiÌ}ÊiÝÌ>VÊ>ÌÊÌ ÃÊiÛiÊvviÀÃÊÕÃÊ a competitive edge to help further expand Ì iÊV«>Þ½ÃÊ«À`ÕVÌÃÊ>`ÊÃiÀÛViÃÊÊ ÀÌ Ê Dakota and reinforce our foothold in the oil and gas market in the region.’ Challenger Industries – the twentieth company to be selected as part of the Allied Distributor Program – is uniquely posiÌi`Êi>ÀÊÌ iÊ >iÊ"Ê- >iÊi`ÃÊÊ ÀÌ Ê >Ì>]ÊÜ V Ê >ÃÊLiiÊ>ÊÀi}ÊvÊ exponential growth in the last few years, says iÝÌ>V°
Contact: Flexitallic Lp, 6915 Highway 225, Deer Park, TX 77536, USA. Tel: +1 281 604 2400, Web:www.flexitallic.com
FST groups automotive sealing expertise under new brand
F
reudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co Kg (FST) has grouped its entire automotive sealing expertise under one new brand – Automotive Sealing.
‘With this new brand, we are bundling up our sealing expertise and focusing our range of products and services around the world even more closely on the needs of our customers in the automotive industry. We are homing in on their global strategies and the technological trends in this sector,’ explained Torsten >ÃV i]Ê*ÀiÃ`iÌ]ÊÕÌÌÛiÊ-i>}° In other, unrelated news, Trelleborg Sealing -ÕÌÃÊiÀ>ÞÊLÊ>`ÊÀiÕ`iLiÀ}Ê have completed the formation of their joint venture which will develop and sell antivibration products for light and heavy vehicles. The new concern operates under the name /ÀiiLÀ}6LÀ>VÕÃÌV]Ê>`ÊLÌ Ê«>ÀÌiÀÃÊi>V Ê hold 50% of the new company. Its headquarters >ÀiÊL>Ãi`ÊÊ >ÀÃÌ>`Ì]ÊÃÕÌ ÊvÊÀ>vÕÀÌ]Ê Germany. ‘I am pleased that the joint venture is now operational. We have formed a global leader in anti-vibration technology – a growing segment within the automotive industry,’ comiÌi`Ê*iÌiÀÊ ÃÃ]Ê*ÀiÃ`iÌÊ>`Ê ivÊ Executive Officer, Trelleborg. ‘Trelleborg as a group will be part of an operation with even higher growth and profitability potential than the anti-vibration operation we had before.’ Contacts: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies GmbH & Co Kg, Höhnerweg 2–4, 69465 Weinheim/Bergstrasse, Germany. Tel: +49 6201 80 6666, Fax: +49 6201 88 6666, Email: [email protected], Web: www.fst.com Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, Handwerkstrasse 5–7, DE-70565 Stuttgart, Germany. Tel: +49 711 78640, Fax: +49 711 780 3171, www.tss.trelleborg.com/de, Web: www.tbvc.com
QSR is sold to Lexington Precision Corp
H
arris Williams & Co, a middle market investment bank that focuses on the advisory needs of clients worldwide, has announced the sale of Quality Synthetic Rubber Inc (QSR) – a provider of custom moulded synthetic rubber components – to Lexington Precision Corp, a portfolio company of Industrial Growth Partners (IGP).
IN BRIEF ERG launches new Web-site The Energy Rubber Group (ERG) recently >ÕV i`ÊÌÃÊiÜÊ7iLÃÌi°ÊÕ`i`ÊÊ 1980 in Houston, Texas, USA, the group is a unique blend of professionals specialising elastomers – all dedicated to the advancement of rubber technology and education in the energy sector. More information: Web: www.energyrubbergroup.org Freudenberg Group’s management board appoints new speaker Dr Peter Bettermann, who for many years >ÃÊLiiÊ-«i>iÀÊvÊÌ iÊ >>}iiÌÊ >À`Ê >`ÊiiÀ>Ê*>ÀÌiÀÊvÊÀiÕ`iLiÀ}ÊEÊ Co Kommanditgesellschaft of Weinheim, Germany, has officially handed over responÃLÌÞÊÌÊ ÃÊÃÕVViÃÃÀ]Ê ÀÊ ÃiÊ- °Ê Before he joined the board in 2010 Dr Sohi was President and Chief Executive Officer of ÀiÕ`iLiÀ}Ê " ÊiiÀ>Ê*>ÀÌiÀà «]ÊL>Ãi`Ê Ê*ÞÕÌ ]Ê V }>]Ê1-°Ê/ iÊ`iVÃÊÌÊ appoint Dr Sohi had already been taken at a meeting of the board of partners in June 2011. Over the past months Dr Sohi has taken on responsibility for strategic development, portfolio management and for central corporate functions. Dr Bettermann, who celebrated his ÈxÌ ÊLÀÌ `>ÞÊÊ >Þ]ÊÃÊÀiÌÀ}]ÊvÜ}Ê£nÊ years on the company’s board. Hydratight reshapes Americas team Hydratight Ltd says that it has made changes to its management team to shape the business vÀÊ>ÀÊiÝ«>ðÊÀiÀÊiÀV>ÃÊÀi}>Ê LÕÃiÃÃÊi>`iÀÊ ÀÃÊ ÌV iÊÃÊÌÊLiViÊ global vice-president for sales and service – a new role reporting directly to Jan de Koning, President, Hydratight. Taking over as Americas regional business leader is Steve Earney, who has held a variety of roles at the company, most recently as commercial leader for the USA and Canada. Brian Ahrens, previously the sales leader for USA and Canada, becomes the new commercial leader for this region. Chetra GmbH Dichtungstechnik moves to new headquarters German mechanical seals company Chetra GmbH Dichtungstechnik has moved to new headquarters. According to the firm, the new «ÀiÃiÃ]ÊV>Ìi`Êi>ÃÌÊvÊ ÕV ]ÊVÀi>ÃiÊÌÃÊ working space by 60%, optimise production flow and comply with ecological building standards. More information: Chetra GmbH V ÌÕ}ÃÌiV ]Ê >ÀÃÃÌÀ>ÃÃiÊ£]Ênxxx£Ê Kirchheim-Heimstetten, Germany. Tel: +49 nÊÎÓÊ{È{ä]Ê>Ý\ʳ{ÊnÊÎÓÊ{È{Óä]Ê >\Ê [email protected], Web: www.chetra.de
5 September 2012
Sealing Technology
NEWS QSR was a portfolio company of Blue *ÌÊ >«Ì>Ê*>ÀÌiÀðÊ>ÀÀÃÊ7>ÃÊEÊ Ê acted as the exclusive advisor to QSR. ‘Blue Point and QSR’s management team have done a tremendous job building – both organically and through acquisition – this leading, precision moulded elastomeric components company, serving the medical device and electrical connector seal markets,’ said Ê iÕiÀ]Ê >>}}Ê ÀiVÌÀ]Ê>ÀÀÃÊ 7>ÃÊEÊ ° ‘We believe the combination of QSR and Lexington brings together complementary technologies and capabilities that will enable management to continue to expand its customer partnerships and further its domestic and international growth across each of its core medical, industrial and automotive endmarkets.’ With operations in the USA and China, QSR manufactures highly engineered, precision moulded elastomeric components for use in a broad range of medical and electrical connector applications. Through its design and engineering expertise, and internal tooling and a broad range of high consistency rubber and liquid injection-moulding capabilities, it has established itself as an extension of its customers’ design and development teams. These customers rely heavily on QSR for products that are a small part of the cost of the end-product, but are critical to its performance, says Harris Williams. >Ãi`ÊÊ ÀÌ Ê >Ì]Ê" ]Ê iÝ}ÌÊÃÊ a leading manufacturer of precision moulded rubber components. Its products, serving the medical and automotive markets, include seals used in laparoscopic surgical devices and components for medication delivery systems, and insulators that are used in car ignition systems. Blue Point, which has offices in the USA and China, is an established private equity firm managing over $800 million in committed V>«Ì>°ÊÕ`i`ÊÊ£Ç]Ê*ÊÃÊ>ÊëiV>ÃÌ]Ê private equity firm that focuses exclusively on the industrial sector. Contacts: Quality Synthetic Rubber Inc, 1700 Highland Road, Twinsburg, OH 44087, USA. Tel: +1 330 425 8472, Fax: +1 330 425 7976, Web: http://qsr-inc.com Lexington Precision Corp, 3565 Highland Park Street NW, North Canton, OH 44720, USA. Tel: +1 330 305 1040, Web: http://lexingtonprecision.com
6
Sealing Technology
Publications of Interest Study aids selection of materials for use in ethanol-blended gasoline dispensers
A
new study that aims to help designers and users to identify potential issues and guide the selection and development of materials compatible for use in dispensers for ethanol-blended gasoline – up to and including E85 – has been published. This latest work expands a previous study published last year. As reported in Sealing Technology April 2011 (page 3) a research team ÊÌ iÊ1-Ê>ÌÊ">Ê,`}iÊ >Ì>Ê >LÀ>ÌÀÞÊ ", ®ÊV«iÌi`ÊÌ iÊvÀÃÌÊ« >ÃiÊvÊÀiÃi>ÀV Ê investigating the compatibility of fuel dispenser materials with gasoline containing intermediate iÛiÃÊvÊiÌ >Ê £ä]Ê £ÇÊEÊ Óx®°Ê ÌÌi`Ê ‘Intermediate Ethanol Blends Infrastructure >ÌiÀ>ÃÊ «>ÌLÌÞÊ-ÌÕ`Þ\Ê >ÃÌiÀÃ]Ê iÌ>ÃÊ>`Ê-i>>Ìý]ÊÌÊÜ>ÃÊ«Ài«>Ài`ÊÕ`iÀÊ VÌÀ>VÌÊLÞÊ", ÊvÀÊÌ iÊ1-Ê i«>ÀÌiÌÊvÊ Energy (DOE). That report covered elastomer and metal compatibility with gasoline test fuels containing up to 25% ethanol. Since then the authors have expanded the effort to test fuels composed of up to 85% ethanol and have added plastics to the material test matrix. They say the purpose of this latest study was not to define the acceptable limits of material performance or to rate individual materials. Rather, the goal was to measure critical property changes – for example, volume, hardness and mass – for representative classes of fuelling infrastructure materials in ethanol-blend test fluids. According to the authors, the test results are intended to be used by material designers and users to identify potential issues, and guide the selection and development of materials compatible for use in ethanol-blended gasoline dispensers, up to and including E85. The report summarising this follow-up effort, entitled ‘Compatibility Study for Plastic,
>ÃÌiÀV]Ê>`Ê iÌ>VÊÕi}ÊvÀ>ÃÌÀÕVÌÕÀiÊ >ÌiÀ>ÃÊ Ý«Ãi`ÊÌÊ}}ÀiÃÃÛiÊÀÕ>ÌÃÊ of Ethanol-Blended Gasoline’ (prepared LÞÊ V >iÊ °Ê >ÃÃ]Ê/Ì ÞÊ°Ê/ iÃÃ]Ê Christopher J. Janke and Steven J. Pawel), is now available from the US DOE.
Contact: Dr Mike Kass, Fuels, Engines & Emissions, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NTRC Building, 2360 Cherahala Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA. Tel: +1 865 946 1241, Fax: +1 865 946 1354, Email: [email protected], Web: http://feerc.ornl.gov
Editor’s comment: This report (ORNL/ TM-2012/88) is available from the US Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) Information Bridge (Web: www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1039968). The December 2012 issue of Sealing Technology will include an article written by the reports’ authors, entitled: Compatibility of Fueling Infrastructure Elastomers to Test Fuel Formulations Representing Blends of Ethanol and Gasoline.
Conferences and Meetings News Conference discusses use of elastomers and plastics in oilfield engineering
T
he 8th international MERL Oilfield Engineering with Polymers conference and exhibition is scheduled to be held on 23–25 October 2012 in London, UK. The companies behind the event – Applied >ÀiÌÊvÀ>ÌÊ Ì`Ê ®Ê>`ÊÌ iÊ >ÌiÀ>ÃÊ }iiÀ}Ê,iÃi>ÀV Ê >LÀ>ÌÀÞÊ Ì`Ê , ®ÊqÊÃ>ÞÊÌ >ÌÊÌÊ«ÀÛ`iÃÊ>ÊÌiÀ>Ì>Ê forum for oilfield operators, contractors and their suppliers. The technical programme reflects the current challenges and solutions to problems associated with the use of plastics, elastomers and composite materials in oilfield engineering. Specific themes include: super-critical CO2, extreme environments (arctic conditions, HPHT, and sour fluids), new materials, rapid gas decompression, qualification testing, longterm reliability and industry standards. Polymers play a critical role in a range of applications, including coatings, insulation, bonded and flexible pipes, hoses, seals, joints and bearings, inflatable tools, umbilicals, risers and blow-out preventers. There is a welcome reception and exhibition on the first evening of the event, followed by a two-day programme, the details of which can be downloaded from the Web-site at the address given below.
September 2012