One of the problems that often appears in a plant's spare parts warehouse is the variety of flat gaskets, not in size (although this is also true) but in materials.
And there are cases where, for the same butt joint, In the warehouse, up to 3 different references coexist. This implies an increase in costs and inefficiency in the manufacturing processes.
In a plant, roughly speaking, 30% seals work in severe conditions where restructured PTFE (rPTFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), graphites and micas, among other materials, solve sealing problems.
However, the vast majority (~70%) of gaskets are made of compressed fibers and elastomers.
Well, with the materials Novapress 850 y Novapress 880 from Frenzelit which we will discuss in depth in this article, can cover the plant needs of approximately one 70%.
Index
Manufacture of Novapress seals
The manufacturing process for Novapress 850 and Novapress 880 gasket materials is automated and software-driven.
The computer controls the weighing of the various components of each formulation as well as the operation of the calender, adjusting the temperature and the clearance of the working cylinders.
This automated process allows both materials to be produced in a sufficiently wide range of thicknesses such as 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mm.
On request, plates of different thicknesses can be manufactured to provide an additional solution to the needs of the process industry.
Once the calendering process is completed, the plate traceability technology is verified to be operational. The finished product is then sent to the shipping department for packaging and dispatch to its destination.
Advantages and benefits of Novapress® gaskets
Below, we will detail the benefits shared by the Novapress 850 and Novapress 880 gaskets:
- - Similar nature based on aramid fibers, with additives and NBR as binder.
- - They copy very well the surface irregularities of the surfaces where they are installed.
- - They have certifications in the food, drinking water, gas supply and industrial fields (FDA; EC 1935/2004; W270; WRAS; DIN 3535 and TA Luft, among others).
- - Compatible with the emerging hydrogen sector.
- - Industry 4.0“ traceability (the gasket allows identification of its manufacturing batch).
Thanks to their special formulation, the seals Novapress 850 y Novapress 880 combine the advantages of elastomer seals and compressed fibers:
- - A adaptability to surfaces similar to that of an elastomer (EPDM, NBR, FPM, ACM...).
- - A mechanical stability as that of other compressed fibers (carbon, fiberglass...).
In gearboxes, transmissions or gearboxes, the fasteners require significantly low tightening torques and the bolts are often spaced far apart.
As a result, the sealing ring has to operate at a very low surface mounting pressure.
In this scenario, a fiber gasket hardly achieves such tightness. On the other hand, elastomer seals cannot withstand the mechanical stresses, especially when the temperature becomes significant.
The gaskets Novapress 850 become the ideal solution by achieving a leakage rate 10,000 times lower than that of a classic compressed fiber joint, with the surface pressure in assembly being as low as 5 MPa.
The Novapress gaskets® 850 are resistant to fuels, lubricants and coolants. However, in applications of higher chemical or steam resistance, it is recommended to use Novapress® 880.
On the other hand, in the case of abrasive fluids such as sludge, recirculation water, gray water, etc., the use of a special fluid is recommended.
It is possible to protect the inside diameter of the cut gaskets with Novapress 850 y Novapress 880 with a ring of stainless steel or other material compatible with the working fluid.
The ring acts as a shield against abrasion caused by the high velocity circulation of the particles -usually sands- of these process waters.
Otherwise, the impact of the particles against the exposed gasket part leads to premature wear with consequent leakage.
If you still have any doubts regarding the Novapress gaskets, contact with our team of specialists in sealing solutions.