|
Because
many seals will face potentially detrimental service
conditions (such as extreme cold or heat), a base
polymer alone is seldom an effective seal material.
Polymers are chosen for their heat and
oil resistance, then other ingredients are added
to make the material easier to process and to augment
its physical and/or chemical traits. These other
ingredients may include:
•
Fillers (to
reinforce or extend the material)
•
Plasticizers (to
aid flexibility and processibility)
•
Cure
activators and accelerators (to
initiate and speed processing)
•
Inhibitors (to
ensure the reaction does not proceed too quickly)
•
Anti-Degradants (to
help resist environmental elements like oxygen
or ozone)
•
Pigments (to
color the material)
The
combination of a base polymer and additives is
called an elastomeric compound.
BACK
TO BASICS MAIN PAGE
|
