Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, a leader in engineered polymer solutions that seal, damp and protect critical applications in demanding environments, which has numerous locations throughout North America, has carried out a series of tests to show the importance of fluid type and seal material choice in “ensuring optimum seal performance and service life.”
Trelleborg worked with fluid producer MacDermid to test the effect of water glycol fluids on common seal materials. Together the engineers for both companies tested seven seal materials which were immersed in water glycol fluids at a range of elevated temperatures up to +200°C/+392°F. Each seal and fluid combination was tested for hardness change, tensile strength change, strain change and volume change.
Water-based hydraulic fluids are widely used in oil and gas, mining, hot-rolling mills and similar applications where the potential for fire could cause catastrophic consequences.