Oil and gas production and chemical manufacturing industries present sealing technologies with some of the harshest and most demanding operating environments.
Harsh and Demanding Operating Environments Require Chemically Resistant and Thermally Stable Seals
"We screen Kalrez against some of the most aggressive corrosive fluids," says Dr Christopher Bish, Technical Fellow. "And in addition to the fluid testing, we did some compression set testing and stress relaxation testing at high temperatures. We now have one of the most chemically resistant and thermally stable compounds possible."
We screen Kalrez against some of the most aggressive corrosive fluids
What really makes Kalrez sealing technology superior and more durable than competitors?
One of the things that sets Dupont Kalrez apart is their quality control system, which gives them the ability to track materials as they flow through the plant. Scanning the barcode on the part bag can pull up the entire production history of that part, including raw materials and process conditions.
Is Every Kalrez Seal Inspected?
Dupont performs a 100% visual inspection. It's one way to ensure the quality rate is high and the return rate is virtually non-existent.
Despite the foreseen images of clean rooms, manufacturing in the semiconductor industry can be a harsh environment and cost of o-ring and seal replacement is significant.
"Kalrez parts are used as sealing materials in semiconductor wafer processing equipment, where high temperatures, aggressive chemicals, and plasmas are used. The most important thing for Kalrez sealing prodcuts is that the materials are resisting those aggressive conditions and not degrading or contaminating the chambers," says Dr. Shuhong Wang, Technical Fellow.
Chemical and Science That Makes Kalrez Better
The polymer chains are fully fluoronated, forming one of the most inert polymer structures possible. Other elastomers have weak points along the chain structure, which are vulnerable to chemical attack and thermal instability. This, in combination with the unique cross-link technologies, many of which are patented, provides optimum durability and protection.
Check out a tour of one of the Kalrez manufacturing plants and learn what makes it the best choice for your demanding applications.
The original video can be seen on the Dupont website.
For more information, or to find which compound is best for you, contact Gallagher Seals. We are an exclusive distributor of Kalrez® seals.