Stick-slip is a common phenomenon that can occur in seals due to uneven friction between objects sliding across each other.
This repetitive start-stop movement or vibration known as stick-slip can cause major issues and even failure of mechanical systems, including seals. However, proper seal design and knowing what to look for can help you avoid stick-slip in your machinery’s seals.
Here’s why stick-slip happens and how you can prevent this problem in your seals.
Stick-slip is familiar experience for most of us
There are so many options when it comes to gasketing material for your process or product that choosing the right one can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, Gallagher's six decades in the sealing business has allowed us to become experts in specifying the correct material for every application.
One of the more versatile materials in our arsenal, for both standard and custom-shaped gaskets, is GORE® GR Sheet Gasketing.
According to the GORE website, GR
A common question that comes from many customers is: “Can you tell me which O-ring compound meets this ASTM D2000 callout?” It’s understandable, since at first glance, the ASTM D2000 callout can be intimidating for determining the type of O-ring material. However, the ASTM D2000 is a very useful tool to quickly specify requirements for O-ring materials, and is standardized so it is easy to interpret industry wide. So, what is the ASTM D2000 specification, and how can I interpret it?
ASTM D2000 is a standardized description of rubber compounds. It was first developed for use in the automotive industry, however it is now used by many industries to specify requirements for rubber compounds in a consistent way. Think of the specification as a common language everyone in the rubber industry speaks, allowing us to communicate easily with each other without an interpreter. An ASTM D2000 callout
VICTREX CT™ 200 is a High-performance thermoplastic PEEK polymer suitable for dynamic sealing applications at very low temperatures.
As the latest member of the VICTREX CT™ PEEK polymers, the 200 grade series exhibits improved sealing over a wider range of temperatures, compared to commonly used materials such as PCTFE. It does so at low temperatures on account of its greater ductility, and at high temperatures due to its superior creep resistance. It also offers a lower static and dynamic coefficient of friction which helps minimize torque and wear, allowing smaller actuators and saving space and weight.
In addition, laboratory testing indicates that they may require less torque to actuate since they have a lower static and dynamic coefficient of friction compared to PCTFE. This results in less wear, higher performance and a potential for cost savings.
VICTREX CT™ 200 can replace Kel F PCTFE in
With the outlook for green hydrogen production on an impressive rise, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) has applied its expertise in fuel cell sealing solutions to develop advanced sealing solutions for electrolyzers. By bonding its sealing materials to electrolyzer stack plates, the company now offers customers reliable, easy-to-install plate units designed to optimize sealing performance in aggressive electrolyzer environments.
“As manufacturing industries make strides in moving toward mass green hydrogen production, our ambitious goal is to support demand for high-capacity
Gallagher Fluid Seals’ customer is a global manufacturer of perfumes and food additives. Their product lines include fine fragrance, shampoos, and a variety of other health and well-being products.
Our customer was having issues with their Mass Spectrometer instrument at their manufacturing plant. High temperature helium gas was leaking through the graphite gaskets on their Gerstel instrument. The replacement OEM seals were not working as intended, causing equipment
The client came to our partners at Eclipse with a challenge: for the sealing requirements of their existing spring energized seal to provide optimal performance in a “worst case” scenario.
The client had an issue with outside seals failing at the deepest possible ocean depth and at max temperature of the instrument.
When tested, the seals were failing at the max temperature of 300°F.
More often than not, the process of parts material selection and/or development can get fairly involved. To summarize: it’s similar to a game of pros vs cons where so many different variables come into play. In the case of TPE, the principle is no different. Factors such as meeting the performance requirements for a specific application, economic assessments, and processing issues, should all be reviewed in order to make the optimal choice. Looking at the qualities and considerations of this material can get this quest for the best off to a great start.
Thermoplastic Elastomers, or TPEs, are flexible materials that exhibit the properties of rubber, but are processed like plastics. When they first became available commercially in the 90’s, it was a whole new exciting development for the realm of engineering. TPE’s growth rate escalated as these high-performance materials continued to be used in a plethora of applications.
Shortly after the discovery and use of PTFE as a seal material, the need for a secondary energizing method became apparent. Unlike rubber or urethane which possess elastic and spring-like properties, PTFE will not return to its original state once deformed.
This is obviously not a desirable trait for sealing material, especially in dynamic sealing applications. PTFE seal designs were soon developed to incorporate energizing elements such as O-Rings and metallic springs. These energizers ensure the PTFE seal is always in contact with the sealing surface.
Our partners at Eclipse utilize three different spring types to internally energize PTFE and other polymer seals, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Below we’ll discuss in detail some of the pros and cons of Cantilever V-Springs and
The current global electric motor market is valued at more than 100 billion dollars and is slated for continued growth in the decades to come.
It’s estimated that more than 30 million electric motors are produced every year. The increased development of robotics and automation in many industrial processes as well as demand for numerous consumer applications continues to fuel growth.
The recent push and increased adoption of electric vehicles, including everything from electric bicycles to automobiles is a prime example of the expanding need for electric motors.