Resilient: Rubber Compounds' Triumph Over Saltwater and Hydraulic Fluids

Hello LinkedIn Community,

It’s time for an in-depth look at the fascinating realm of rubber compounds and their ability to withstand the relentless assault of saltwater environments and the potentially corrosive nature of hydraulic fluids. Join us as we delve into the world of rubber compounds and highlight the top contenders that excel in resisting the performance compromising effects of salt and fluid additives, and rubber compounds that deliver longevity and performance to a wide variety of industries!

Navigating the Challenges of Saltwater Environments

"From Sea to Shining Seal"

Saltwater is a common medium in marine and offshore industries. Sealing applications in shipbuilding, offshore platforms, subsea equipment, and coastal structures see their fair share of saltwater exposure. In certain regions, water treatment facilities may source their water from brackish sources or coastal areas with saltwater intrusion, or in desalination processes (RO). Sealing applications in pumps, valves, and pipelines within these industries must maintain proper sealing while operating in some of the world’s most corrosive environments!

The impact of salt can be particularly harsh on rubber sealing components. The presence of salts can lead to swelling, softening, or hardening of rubber compounds, ultimately resulting in reduced sealing effectiveness. Our team of experts at Moss Seal can identify compounds and build custom products using materials with excellent resistance to salts, such as Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) or fluoroelastomer (FKM), ensuring your production remains consistently reliable.

Protecting Against Additives in Hydraulic Sealing

Hydraulic systems play a crucial role in numerous industries, from heavy equipment like excavators and cranes to vehicle steering and aircraft landing gears. Hydraulic fluids, which can contain additives and specific chemical compositions, demand seals that maintain their integrity and functionality over time. Unfortunately, some additives with good intent can degrade your sealing performance and cause premature equipment failures when compatibility is an issue.

Certain anti-wear additives, such as Zinc DialkylDithioPhosphate (ZDDP), can have a negative effect on certain types of rubber compounds. The anti-wear chemicals may cause accelerated degradation, swelling, or reduced performance in specific rubber materials, especially at high temperatures. Some detergents and dispersants, when used in high concentrations or in combination with other additives, can also affect sealing materials by swelling, softening, or changing material physical properties, leading to potential seal failure. Rubber compounds, such as some FKM, FFKM, and HNBR rubbers have good resistance to ZDDP. If you suspect your issues may be due to additives or maybe you aren’t sure and would like a second opinion, contact Moss Seal for assistance!

The Depths of Well Lifecycle

To survive deep well conditions, seals need to be designed to withstand extreme pressures, aggressive fluids, and the vastly challenging environments encountered during drilling, fracking, and completion processes. There is truly nothing convenient about replacing a seal that is 6,000 feet below the surface, where issues can range from acids to Geo-thermal temps.

While subterranean monsters aren’t likely to be one of these issues, seal failures at this depth are still frightening due to costly retrievals and downtime. From wellbore integrity to production optimization, Moss Seal understands the unique challenges faced throughout the well lifecycle and are proud to supply a comprehensive range of engineered sealing and rubber products for all processes in well drilling, fracking, and completions, as well as offer many alternative material solutions to combat the monsters of deep well!

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Moss Seal continually invests in research and development to offer cutting-edge sealing solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients, and we invite you to stay connected with us on LinkedIn for regular updates, technical insights, and industry trends.

Feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your sealing challenges or request more information about our rubber compounds and sealing solutions, and together we'll explore the possibilities and find the ideal sealing solutions for your needs!