Auto molding PTFE seals and seats offer a wide variety of benefits, especially for high-volume production runs. In this blog post, we cover some background on both PTFE and auto molding (also known as compression molding) and discuss why this particular manufacturing process is often preferred by engineers for both seals and ball valve seats.
Low Temperature O-Ring Solutions
Finding the right low-temperature o-ring solution can be critical to both the success and safety of a design — and FEP encapsulated o-rings are an excellent solution.
Low Temperature and Cryogenic Applications
Cryogenic refers to temperatures below freezing and extending to absolute zero (-460°F / -273°C), while low-temperature environments are typically defined as below -25°F. Common chemicals that are stored or transported at cryogenic temperature include
- Liquid Oxygen (LOX), -297°F
- Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), −265°F
- Liquid Hydrogen (LH2), -423°F
- Liquid Nitrogen (LN2), –130°F
- Liquid Helium, -452°F
The industries that involve low temperatures include aerospace, energy, electronics, chemical processing, food, pharmaceutical, and medicine. Quantum computing, rockets, and MRI machines are just a few specific examples where cryogenic o-rings are needed.
The Basics of PVDF
Kynar PVDF (property of Arkema) is a high purity polymer that combines extreme-temperature performance, easy manufacturability, and durability in some of the harshest environments.
What is PVDF?
PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride or polyvinyl fluoride) is a fluorinated thermoplastic resin that is classified as a specialty polymer whose brand names include Kynar (Arkema), KF (Kureha), and Solef or Hylar (Solvay). This engineering polymer can often be found in environments that involve high purity, hot acid, extremely high temperatures, and/or radiation.
The History of ePTFE
Expanded PTFE (or ePTFE), like regular PTFE, is an incredibly versatile and rugged material. And like PTFE, ePTFE began as an accident. Before we can get to that, however, we should start at the beginning.
What is the history of ePTFE? When his ideas for expanding the use of PTFE was turned down by his employers at DuPont, chemist Wilbert “Bill” Gore left the company to start his own. And in 1958 Gore and his wife Genevive “Vive” Gore founded W.L. Gore and Associates out of the basement of their Delaware home. During this time, Gore’s company began to serve the burgeoning computer industry by using PTFE to insulate multiple copper conductors and fashion them into ribbon cable resulting in a product known as MULTI-TET.
Learn More About the History of ePTFE
Bob Gore recreating his discovery of ePTFE
As the years went on it became clear to Gore that trends in computer technologies meant that computers were becoming smaller and smaller, resulting in the need for less cables for circuitry. In 1968, Gore tasked his son, Robert “Bob” Gore, to come up with a solution. One night in October 1969, Bob Gore was researching a new process for stretching extruded PTFE into pipe-thread tape when he discovered that the polymer could be “expanded.”
After several failed experiments in which Bob tried to slowly expand the material even further, he became frustrated and yanked the material. As it turned out, this was the exact conditions PTFE needed to become expanded. This sudden yank resulted in the transformation of solid PTFE into a microporous structure that was about 70% air. This material would later become known as ePTFE, or Gore-Tex.
ePTFE Applications
Today, ePTFE is used in a wide variety of applications. These applications include:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Energy
- Filtration
- Medical
- And much more
Interested in learning more about ePTFE and how Advanced EMC Technologies can offer you premiere sealing solutions? Contact us today!
Millable Plastics: Which are Suited to Oil and Gas?
There are certain polymers out there that can be classified as millable or machinable. When millable plastics are needed for the aggressive environments encountered by oil and gas equipment, the challenge to find a suitable polymer becomes even harder.
Understanding the Glass Transition Temperature of Polymers
As you know, polymers behave very differently from metals. One aspect of that behavior involves the glass transition temperature. In this blog post, we are going to focus on the glass transition temperature of thermoplastics.
Thermal Analysis Techniques for Polymers, Part 2: DSC, TGA, EGA
This blog post represents the second installment in a series of posts on thermal analysis techniques for polymers. In part 1 we discussed differential thermal analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis.
Thermal Analysis Techniques for Polymers, Part 1: DTA, TMA, and DMA
In this blog post, we are going to start a discussion about the most common thermal analysis techniques used to investigate the properties of polymers. In part 1 of this series, our focus will be on:
- differential thermal analysis
- thermomechanical analysis; and
- dynamic mechanical analysis
This discussion will include how these tests are performed and what kind of properties can be determined from the resulting data.
Extreme Polymers: Polyimide
Polyimide, typically abbreviated as PI or referred to tradenames such as Vespel, Plavis and Duratron-PI, is the second most powerful high temperature engineering polymer on the market today, right behind Celazole. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the characteristics and uses of this powerful high-performance polymer.
Extreme Polymers: PBI
Extreme polymers are known for their performance at high temperatures that other polymers just cant handle. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at PBI the highest performing thermoplastic on the market today.