Sealing materials surface finishes

Nitrile rubbers, including fiber-reinforced varieties, are used both as radial shaft-seal materials and as molded packing for reciprocating shafts. They have excellent resistance to a considerable range of chemicals, with the exception of strong acids and alkalis, and are at the same time compatible with petroleum-based lubricants. Their working temperature range is from —1°C to 107°C (30°F to 225°F) continuously and up to 150°C (302°F) intermittently. When used on hard shafts with a surface finish of, at most, 0.00038 mm root mean square (RMS), they have an excellent resistance to abrasion. 

Silicone rubber as a shaft seal and backing material has a number of special applications. It can be used over a temperature range of —60°C to 260°C (—76°F to 500°F) in air or suitable fluids. Its abrasion resistance is good with hard shafts having a 0.000254 mm RMS surface finish. Commercial grades of silicone rubber are compatible with most industrial chemicals up to 260°C (500°F). In lubricating oils, the limiting temperature is 120°C (250°F), but special types have been developed for use up to 200°C (392°F). 

Today the most important applications are in surface coatings, including some use as French polish, as adhesives and cements, including valve capping and optical cements, for playing card finishes and for floor polishes. The material also continues to be used for hat stiffening and in the manufacture of sealing wax. 

See Table 11.5. The application of a prethreaded cap relies on a torque usually measured as N m, to make a good impression between two surfaces. Ideally one material should be hard, e.g. glass, so that it bites into a resilient (soft) material such as composition cork. The sealing surface of a glass finish may be radial or flat, or in certain circumstances stepped or tapered. Thermoplastic closures are generally less dimensionally stable than metal closures. 

Sealer- A finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is usually applied directly over raw wood for the purpose of sealing the wood surface. 

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