Saint-Gobain expands OmniFlex™ line with new high wearability / Low friction R22 Fluoroelastomer Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
As the newest addition to the OmniFlex™ line of sealing solutions, R22 has alread proven its worth in an application involving air-actuated valves. Sealing such actuators is always a challenge - even for the most sophisticated sealing solutions - but OmniFlex™ met or exceeded all application requirements and is saving the customer thousands of dollars annually. The details exemplify Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics' ability to adapt existing materials to very specific customer applications.
The fundamental objective for this application was to improve OmniFlex™ fluoroelastomer 's wearability.
Based on customer feedback, basic versions of OmniFlex™ already outlast perfluoroelastomers, but the customer was looking for an even longer wearlife. Because OmniFlex™ is liquid injection molded (LIM), fillers can be easily added to give the material the characteristics desired for any particular aplication. In this case, Saint-Gobain Peformance Plastics developed a material formulation - OmniFlex™ R22 - that delivered on the customer's wearlife requirement while exceeding other performance criteria.
Following are the specific criteria the actuator seal needed to meet, and the extent to which OmniFlex™ R22 exceeded them:
- High reliability at sub-zero temperatures (-45°F/-43°C) / OmniFlex™ R22 (-70°F/-57°C)
- Low compression set / OmniFlex™ R22 (3%)
- Long seal life (1000 cycles) / OmniFlex™ R22 (3000 cycles)
- Lower cost than perfluoroelastomers
- Excellent chemical resistance
Using OmniFlex™ R22 enabled the customer to reduce seal redundancy from three seals to two. Fewer seals combined with a significantly lower unit cost compared to perfluoroelastomer seals means cost reductions greater than $30,000 on an annual basis.
24 May 2011
