elastomeric
- November 03, 2023
From the outside, an elastomeric expansion joint looks to simply be made out of molded rubber. Part of the reason expansion joints are used in such a wide variety of applications is that the interior construction of a joint can be custom-designed to handle your specific application - materials of construction will depend on size, temperature, application, media, pressure (S.T.A.M.P.).
Layers of Construction
Tube
- Synthetic or natural rubber forms seamless, leak-proof lining
- Extends fully through bore to outer flange edge
- Common materials include chlorobutyl, neoprene, natural rubber, EPDM, Viton* and Hypalon*
- December 22, 2022
Expansion Joint Surveys
Gallagher Fluid Seals is proud to provide the Rubber Expansion Joint Surveys & Failure Analysis white paper to customers, which can be found on our Resources page. This white paper discusses the importance of inspecting your plant’s expansion joints. Proper design and maintenance of rubber expansion joints plays a major role in the overall preservation and lifespan of a piping system.
It also discusses failure analysis of rubber expansion joints and some of the leading causes of joint failure.
Below is an except from the white paper, discussing design and maintenance of rubber expansion joints, as well as the importance of expansion joint surveys.
- March 18, 2022
Lubrication is an important, sometimes overlooked, component of sealing. Many applications require lubrication for installation to prevent seal damage and prevent injury during manual assembly. Internal lubricants reduce installation force and dynamic friction without the need for an external lubricant or coating. Internal lubrication also decreases break-out friction for dynamic applications. Operating seals with no lubrication can lead to heat buildup and accelerated wear that can result in leakage and shorten the seal’s life. Internally lubricated seal materials provide a clean alternative to grease or oil in an assembly operation.
This blog will discuss how they work and the benefits of internally lubricated o-rings.
- January 17, 2019
Article re-posted with permission from Parker Hannifin Sealing & Shielding Team.
Original content can be found on Parker’s Blog.Contact GFS about battery sealing solutions >>
Sealing can often be a frustrating challenge when dealing with batteries and battery storage solutions. Determining what materials are compatible with certain chemistries or developing a profile that provides optimal sealing under available compression can be a time-consuming task for those outside the sealing industry. A trial and error approach can have a significant overall cost impact through multiple prototype iterations, prolonged testing, and ultimately, delaying product commercialization.
Specialized support
With Gallagher Fluid Seals and Parker Sealing's design and material engineers, we can provide support to your team in the critical, early stages of product development. With hundreds of engineered elastomeric materials to choose from, Parker and GFS can identify and recommend a compound that works with your specific electrolytes or other fluids. With the exceptionally long lifetime requirements of flow batteries, Parker's homogeneous rubber provides the elasticity needed to handle the many charge-discharge cycles the battery will see in its life.
- November 06, 2018
Gallagher Fluid Seals recently added the Rubber Expansion Joint Surveys & Failure Analysis white paper to our Resources page. This white paper discusses the importance of inspecting your plant’s expansion joints. Proper design and maintenance of rubber expansion joints plays a major role in the overall preservation and lifespan of a piping system.
It will also discuss failure analysis of rubber expansion joints and some of the leading causes of joint failure.
Below is an except from the white paper, discussing failure analysis of rubber expansion joints, and what it can tell you about the overall health of your piping system.
Failure Analysis
There are perceptible warning signs when an expansion joint is failing:
- Arch inversion indicating a system vacuum that has exceeded the joint’s specified expansion value.
- Cracking at the base of the arch, which indicates the joint has been over-elongated and should be replaced with one of the proper length.
- Ply separation on the outside of the cover. This is an indication the joint has been subjected to excessive movement.
- Leakage due to over-expansion, mating flange surface issues, or poor installation practices, especially (but not limited to) bolt tightness.
- Ballooning of arch, which indicates excessive system pressure.
- August 08, 2017
Gallagher recently released its Expansion Joint Design Guide, now available for download on our site. This design guide takes an in-depth look at elastomeric, metal, and flue duct expansion joints. The excerpt below is a section of our Expansion Joint Design Guide focusing on types of elastomeric joint installation, pipe layouts, and joint troubleshooting. To download the entire guide, visit our Resources Page, or click on the image to the right.
Preparation
Check Service Range
- Double check expansion joint performance limits against anticipated operating conditions
- Check temperature, pressure, vacuum recommendations
- Check total joint deflection—alter as needed to reduce deflection to correct range
- Anchor lines
Check Location
- Proper location is usually close to main anchoring point
- Install pipe guide(s) for proper alignment
- Joint should absorb pipeline expansion / contraction between fixed anchor points
