Polymer takes the heat in seal design
A
Victrex product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Apr 9, 2002
In designing its CinchSeal chopper seals used in mixing and blending equipment, Damar of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA, selected Victrex Peek polymer for the seal faces.
In designing its CinchSeal chopper seals used in mixing and blending equipment, Damar of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA, selected Victrex Peek polymer for the seal faces because of the material's ability to withstand the frictional heat build-up common to high speed mixing applications.
"The CinchSeal is a self-contained cartridge seal designed to prevent leakage of powdered solids into the environment", explains David Pitchko, President of Damar "The module is designed so that the Peek polymer seal faces rotate against the 316 stainless steel housing of the cartridge.
They do not seal directly to the shaft.
The concept is to transfer the seal interface from the shaft to a larger, self-lubricating and self-cleaning interface provided by the cartridge plates and rotor washers instead of grabbing the rotating shaft with mechanical packing which is customary.
Because the seal floats the rotor against the stainless steel stator, it accommodates shaft eccentricity and vibration without interrupting the seal or causing undue wear on the interface.
The advantage of the design is that it eliminates the problem of shaft damage which is a consequence of using mechanical packing".
During the design phase, Damar tested a number of materials for the seal faces.
"None of them had the high temperature capabilities or the surface travelling capabilities of Peek polymer", says Pitchko.
"Both are essential in high speed applications because the frictional heat build-up that comes from 3600rev/min can destroy most plastics.
When PTFE braided packing is used in these high-speed applications, the slightest tightening will cause the packing to plasticise and burn".
According to Pitchko chemical resistance is also an important property requirement.
"It is essential that the seal materials be compatible with most of the powdered solids in the marketplace.
Because Peek polymer is inert to the majority of chemicals, it can handle virtually all the materials currently being processed.
In addition, it meets the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food contact applications which is essential as mixers and blenders are widely used in the food processing industry".
The CinchSeal is designed specifically for the chopper area of a mixer or blender.
"The chopper area is pitched downward at an angle of 45 degrees so there is a tendency for the material to build up and go down the shaft and leak.
"And", says Pitchko, "because the seal prevents leakage there is no wasted product - and nothing to foul the bearings or contaminate processing areas.
No leakage means enhanced life for the rotating equipment and reduced maintenance because there are no clean-up requirements".
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