As a trusted supplier of high-performance sealing solutions to the pharmaceutical industry, the Garlock family of companies knows that gaskets can make or break a sanitary process. But how has material technology been evolving? This blog will discuss how material technologies are meeting manufacturing challenges to help pharmaceutical companies adapt to smaller batch sizes, frequent changeovers, leaner operations, vendor consolidation and stricter regulations.
Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process that occurs between two dissimilar metals, or between a metal and a conductive non-metallic material, when both are exposed to an electrically conductive media. In the case of a packing gland, it occurs between a metal component and the carbon or graphite packing. Under these conditions, the material that is closest to the anodic end of the galvanic scale will be corroded in preference to the one that is closest to the cathodic end of the scale. (See Table 1.) As the distance between materials on the galvanic scale increases, a corresponding rise occurs in the rate and the extent of the corrosion.
In a valve or a pump using packing made of either graphite or carbon, a galvanic reaction may be initiated as soon as any electrically conductive fluid, such as water, is introduced. Since graphite is more cathodic than the metals that make up valves and pumps, it is the metal that may
There are many aged and aging process plants in operation today. In fact, many of the processing plants for power, chemicals, oil, etc., have been in service for more than 50 years. And while the piping itself may remain intact, their bolted flange gasket joints and connections are becoming misaligned, corroded and damaged due to repeated handling, chemical exposure and thermal cycling. This can lead to costly ruptures that may result in millions of dollars in damages, downtime, noncompliance penalties, irreparable environmental impact and litigation.
There is a solution that can extend the life of aging piping systems, preserving their functionality: raising the surface profile on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gaskets. This design modification can prevent leaks, spills and other releases in chemical processing plants by reducing and managing
Chemical Processing
Size: Various
Temperature: 200° F
Application: Carbon steel, lead-lined flanges
Media: Bromine
Pressure: 150 psi
A manufacturer of specialty inorganic chemicals needed a gasket recommendation for bromine service using carbon steel lead-lined flanges.
The expanded PTFE (ePTFE) gasket
Pumps that operate with a diaphragm have been in use since the mid-1800s because of their simplicity and effectiveness.
That isn’t to say these pumps have remained unchanged in all that time. More than 150 years of innovation and technical improvements in diaphragm profiles and elastomeric material sciences have secured their use for a wide range of pumping and reciprocating applications.
The design and utilization of diaphragms in pumping applications is a vast topic, yet it is one that Gallagher Fluid Seals’ application engineers have mastered by approaching the manufacturing and design of diaphragms with a step-by-step process.
Abrasive media comes in many forms—from mining slurries to wood pulp and even substances as seemingly mild as liquid chocolate. This diversity rules out a one-size-fits-all solution for abrasive pumping applications. However, today’s broad range of materials, from carbon fiber packing to graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bushings, includes products capable of meeting an equally broad range of abrasive wear requirements.
Few materials offer the abrasive resistance and heat dissipation of carbon fiber yarns. Braided compression packing made from this material excels under extreme conditions, including exposure to a variety of chemicals, temperatures approaching 850 F (454 C) in oxygen-rich atmospheres (up to 1,200 F/649 C in steam) and shaft speeds in excess of 4,000 feet per minute (fpm).
Flange gasket storage is often an after-thought for many of our customers. While incorrect gasket installation procedures is the #1 culprit when it comes to gasket failure, gasket storage can play a large role in the quality of the gasket being installed.
Flange gaskets are highly engineered products, and their performance depends on many factors. Certainly design, manufacture, installation, and process conditions are all critical, but so is storage before use. Gasket materials often remain in storage for a long time before they are placed into service. Unfortunately, storage practices for gasket materials are generally not optimal or controlled well enough. This article provides guidance for the storage of different gasket materials to preserve their integrity.
Garlock launched of ABRA-SHIELD™ in 2018, an expansion joint material designed for abrasion resistance and sustainability in demanding high temperature operating conditions.
As the newest addition to Garlock’s family of abrasion resistant expansion joint materials, ABRA-SHIELD™ joined ABRA-LINE® and Natural Rubber to provide a variety of liners that cater to increased abrasion protection. ABRA-SHIELD™ will be an option for use with a number of expansion joint products that Garlock offers – including styles 204, 206, 7250, 8400 and 9394. These expansion joints also provide high levels of protection from stress, misalignment, vibration, noise, shock and corrosion.
Material certifications, seal geometry and even seal color must also be factored in to allow for maximized seal life, minimized risk and reduced total cost of ownership for both the seal and the rotating equipment.
The most challenging operational environments for sealing mixers, agitators and pumps are often found in the food and pharmaceutical industries. When designing, selecting, or implementing a dynamic seal into operation in the food and pharma space, it is crucial to consider all the physical challenges the seal may face to ensure sealing success. Further, material certifications, seal geometry, and even seal color must also be factored in to allow for maximized seal life, minimized risk and reduced total cost of ownership for both the seal and the rotating equipment.
In this article, we will highlight some of the common environments found within these industries, discuss how the operating conditions affect seal design and selection, and finally, share some