Webwatch

Devices of this type p r e s e n t several d r a w b a c k s . One way of a s s e m b l i n g the c o n n e c t o r is to i n s e r t the cable t h r o u g h the sealing element before crimping the t e r m i n a l onto the cable - a fairly complex, time c o n s u m i n g process. Alternatively, the sealing element m a y be a s s e m b l e d b e f o r e h a n d inside the casing, w h e r e b y the electric t e r m i n a l , a l r e a d y crimped to the cable, m u s t be fitted t h r o u g h the opening in the seal w h e n the t e r m i n a l is i n s e r t e d inside the casing. On a c c o u n t of the small section of the opening in the seal, this can r e s u l t in severe distortion of the seal, a n d in t e a r i n g or cutting of the edge of the opening, t h u s i m p a i r i n g sealing efficiency. S u b s e q u e n t removal a n d r e a s s e m b l y m a y r e s u l t in f u r t h e r damage. Figure 3 shows the inventive device which a i m s to resolve these difficulties. The u n i t c o n s i s t s of a p a i r of sealing e l e m e n t s which are p r e s s e d together to seal a r o u n d a n u m b e r of electric cables. The two sections are m o u l d e d from elastomeric material, a n d have an u n d u l a t i n g c o n t o u r of c r e s t s a n d grooves. W h e n the sections are p r e s s e d together, the sealing lips engage a r o u n d the cable to effectively form a l a b y r i n t h seal. This e n s u r e s a b s o l u t e l y airtight sealing of the cables. t e m p e r a t u r e s over 100C. The inventors have found t h a t the practice of u s i n g a m i n o a l k y l containing silicone c o m p o u n d s is a c t u a l l y d e t r i m e n t a l to h o t hydroc a r b o n oil r e s i s t a n c e in t h e s e gaskets, a n d they need to be excluded from c o m p o s i t i o n s u s e d as a u t o m o t i v e engine g a s k e t s . The u s e of RTV silicone s e a l a n t compositions, f o r m u l a t e d with ketoximosilane crosslinkers and p a r t i c u l a r l y vinyltriketoximosilane, was found to provide r a p i d cure a n d improved h o t h y d r o c a r b o n r e s i s t a n c e . It was t h e n u n e x p e c t e d l y found t h a t the r e s i s t a n c e , as evidenced from the v o l u m e swell m e a s u r e m e n t after i m m e r s i o n in hot oil at 150C for 7 days, could be f u r t h e r improved by the p r o p e r selection of c e r t a i n c o m b i n a t i o n s of ketoximosilane crosslinkers. A s e a l a n t c o m p o s i t i o n s cure rapidly, s u c h t h a t the t a c k - f l e e time is less t h a n 100 m i n u t e s , a n d preferably less t h a n 50 m i n u t e s . The cost of m a k i n g t h e s e s e a l a n t s is less b e c a u s e of the r e d u c e d a m o u n t of expensive vinyltriketoximosilanes. Less reinforcing silica is also required. Cost r e d u c t i o n is a c c o m p l i s h e d while improving the m a t e r i a l properties.

Reducing swell of filled silicone sealant gaskets

P a t e n t number: E P 7 1 8 3 6 9 Publication date: 2 6 J u n e 1 9 9 6 Inventor: L Lower Applicant: D o w Corning Corporation
This p a t e n t d e s c r i b e s a m e t h o d of forming g a s k e t s from selected silicone s e a l a n t compositions containing filler a n d ketoximosilane crosslinker. The p r o d u c t g a s k e t s have r e d u c e d hot h y d r o c a r b o n oil swell c o m p a r e d to those containing vinyltriketoximosilane as a crosslinker. Silicone compositions which cure at room t e m p e r a t u r e when exposed to a t m o s p h e r i c moisture, known as RTVs, are commonly u s e d as sealants. They need to r e t a i n their sealing p r o p e r t y while repeatedly in contact for prolonged periods with h o t h y d r o c a r b o n oils at

Webwatch
Rotordynamics-Seal Research http: / / w w w . r s r . com
RSR w a s f o u n d e d in 1988 to provide the rotating m a c h i n e r y c o m m u n i t y with a c c e s s to a d v a n c e d a e r o s p a c e a n a l y t i c a l tools a n d b e a r i n g / s e a l technologies. Its new h o m e p a g e r e m a i n s true to form, providing a selection of demos a n d s h a r e w a r e which will a s s i s t in r o t a t i n g s y s t e m a n a l y s i s a n d seal design. Major technological d e v e l o p m e n t s arising from the c o m p a n y ' s w o r k with N a s a a n d other g o v e r n m e n t agencies are listed.

Ameraflex http: / / w w w . a m e r a f l e x . c o m
A variety of seals a n d g a s k e t s u p p l i e r s a r e r e p r e s e n t e d on this vividly p r e s e n t e d h o m e p a g e created by Ameraflex, which a c t s as a distributor. The c o m p a n y ' s Electronic D a t a I n t e r c h a n g e a n d Integrated S u p p l y Program services are also detailed in a format t h a t a p p e a r s specifically geared t o w a r d s seals m a k e r s . Elsewhere, the c o m p a n y p r e s i d e n t offers his t h o u g h t s on c u r r e n t industry issues.

Helicoflex / Cefilac http://www.helicoflex.com

A c o m p r e h e n s i v e offering from the U S / F r e n c h s u b d i v i s i o n s of C a r b o n e Lorraine. Their h o m e p a g e covers the r a n g e of sealing p r o d u c t s a n d s y s t e m s available in some depth, a n d gives a brief look into R&D facilities m a i n t a i n e d in c o n j u n c t i o n with the F r e n c h Atomic Energy Commission, in Pierrelatte.

Morgan A d v a n c e d Materials and T e c h n o l o g y http://www.mamat.com/

MAMAT m e c h a n i c a l c a r b o n - g r a p h i t e m a t e r i a l s are widely u s e d for rotating s h a f t a n d face seals. Here, the p r o p e r t i e s t h a t m a k e t h e s e s u b s t a n c e s s u c c e s s f u l in sealing a p p l i c a t i o n s a r e i l l u s t r a t e d . The h o m e p a g e also profiles the p r o c e d u r e s a n d e q u i p m e n t MAMAT u s e s to verify m a t e r i a l performance characteristics.

Sealing Technology No. 36

15