Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Victrex USA | Subject: STE
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 April 2002
Polymer protects cylinder head gasket
When STE developed its new Monomet cylinder head gasket, it used a powder coating compound of Victrex Peek polymer and PTFE.
When STE of Wilhelmshaven, Germany developed its new Monomet cylinder head gasket, it used a powder coating compound of Victrex Peek polymer and PTFE to prevent the dangers of micro abrasion, contact corrosion and "welding" of the cylinder head to the cylinder block This highly durable coating allows the gasket to last longer, seal better and be repeatedly reinstalled without any significant effect on cylinder head performance
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 31 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Monomet gasket is a one-piece solid steel stamping with a tightly controlled thickness profile.
According to Kevin Jennings, General Manager for Victrex North America, "The coating, which is applied in a secondary step, must meet a range of temperature, wear and chemical resistance requirements and is of key importance to the overall function of this new gasket technology".
An engine's cylinder head places extreme demands on all surrounding components, and, in particular, on the cylinder head gasket.
"Temperatures in this environment vary between -40 and +250C and can be even higher in the short term", explains Jennings.
"The critical requirements of simultaneously sealing the engine coolant, engine oil and combustion gases present an extreme challenge to the sealing material".
In addition, due to the distortion of the cylinder head, the gasket is subjected to compression forces up to 200N/mm2 which demands high strength over a wide temperature range.
Furthermore, all of the cylinder head to block movement, resulting from constant temperature and pressure changes, must be absorbed by the head gasket while maintaining a seal with the least possible amount of friction.
STE uses the Multislide coating process to apply the Peek polymer and PTFE compound to the gasket.
"One of the most difficult challenges was to ensure a permanent adhesion of the coating to the metal gasket", says Jennings.
"By using a special bonding agent, STE perfected the coating technology so that only a 20um coating is needed to pass 2kh of hot water testing at 120C and 900h of thermal shock testing.
The coated gasket has since proven itself in OEM testing and has nearly three years of vehicle testing".
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