Treatment reduces elastomer friction

A Minnesota Rubber and Plastics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 8, 2007

F-Treat provides a permanent low coefficient of friction surface that will not dissipate with wear.

Excessive friction on elastomer components causes wear and premature system failure.

To reduce friction, a process known as F-Treat provides a surface modification to most elastomers.

It provides a permanent low coefficient of friction surface that will not dissipate with wear.

Minnesota Rubber and Plastics developed the F-Treat process to meet the needs of demanding applications including automotive and appliance assemblies.

FKM elastomers, which contain conventional lubricating waxes, are ineffective because high processing temperatures make these ingredients volatile.

Until F-treated FKM elastomers were developed, the only option has been topical modification of the coating with products such as molybdenum disulfide, graphite, silicone oil, or PTFE powder.

The drawback to these topical modifications is that the coatings can be washed from the surface and it is often not practical to replenish these coatings in the application.

Minnesota Rubber and Plastics' F-Treat process provides a surface modification to most elastomers with a permanent low coefficient of friction surface.

The modification is present beneath the surface of the moulded component so that if abrasion of the elastomer occurs, a modified low-friction surface will always be present.

Laboratory studies of a broad range of elastomer materials show a dramatic reduction for coefficient of friction of F-Treated moulded components.

Since the modification occurs as a reaction with the polymer, the most dramatic improvement is seen with low-hardness, polymer-rich elastomers such as a 55 Shore A compound.

Not what you're looking for? Search the site.

Back to top Back to top

Google Ads

 

Contact Minnesota Rubber and Plastics

Related Stories

Contact Minnesota Rubber and Plastics

 

Newsletter sign up

Request your free weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter ...

Articles by product category

All suppliers A - Z

A Pro-talk Publication

A Pro-talk publication