Seals bond to metal to save space

Lengthy research and field testing has enabled Busak+Shamban to successfully bond perfluoroelastomer Isolast seals to metal - offering major performance advantages for chemical and process industries.

Lengthy research with field testing has enabled Busak+Shamban to successfully bond perfluoroelastomer Isolast seals to metal - offering major performance advantages for users in the chemical and processing industries (CPI) Sealing devices incorporating a rubber lip, pad or membrane, bonded to a metal component, have traditionally posed design problems when FFKM perfluoroelastomer is required.

The material is chosen for its high-temperature and chemical resistance, and because of this conventional glue bonding will not provide certainty of sealing integrity, essential in critical chemical and processing industry applications.

The new development uses Busak+Shamban Isolast FFKM materials and enables successful bonding to a wide range of surfaces, including stainless and mild steel, aluminium, brass and various plastics.

The bonding action achieved with the Isolast materials does not compromise the physical performance properties nor the general chemical resistance of the perfluoroelastomer.

Both laboratory and field testing show bond integrity to be greater than the tensile strength of the perfluoroelastomer itself.

In addition, immersion tests in a range of chemicals, including acetic acid, methyl ether ketone (MEK) and sulphuric acid at elevated temperatures, show the bond to be resistant to chemical attack.

In fact, bond strength is proven to be equally as high, following immersion, as it was before the soak tests began.

Medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries have adopted this advanced sealing technology from Busak+Shamban with seals now manufactured from the Isolast FDA approved grade J9515 material, bonded to stainless steel to eliminate the problems associated with groove voids.

Bacterial build up and subsequent contamination has been eliminated and the severe cleaning fluids required within CIP/SIP processes may be used with complete confidence.

In fact, Isolast seals are almost universally compatible with all chemicals.

In cases where space is at a premium, the bonded seal is often the preferred option, and the Isolast development now makes it possible to use FFKM materials.

Further benefits derived from bonding to metal components using Isolast perfluoroelastomer include fewer parts to be handled and stored, a smaller overall component and resultant increased speed in subsystem assembly.

Recent application examples have shown the use of Isolast perfluoroelastomer bonded seals to offer a full 50% cost saving when replacing conventional sealing arrangements.

Furthermore, although the seal is smaller, the design can achieve improved sealing performance.

There are many design, performance and logistical advantages derived from this Busak+Shamban development, and a detailed paper, together with test results and performance comparisons is available.

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