Be it in the production of food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics or medical devices coming into contact with the human body, excellent purity and media resistance combined with a wide range of robust properties is always required of the materials used for the components in the manufacturing processes. Specifically for these challenging applications, Parker has developed a new sealing compound with very good mechanical properties and excellent permanent elasticity: HiFluor® FB V8991.
Fluoroelastomeric materials have proven their viability in chemical and food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and life science applications involving non-polar solvents, aliphatic compounds, greases, oils and aromatic substances whenever the resistance of standard materials such as hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) is no longer sufficient.
Innovative “Pure” Sealing Solution HiFluor® FB V8991
As a compound and seal manufacturer, Parker Prädifa, in the light of the growing demands made on sealing elements in the aforementioned markets, has developed a HiFluor® FB compound with very good mechanical properties and excellent permanent elasticity.
With its properties profile shown in Table 1, HiFluor® FB V8991 proves to be the compound of choice in hygienic and aseptic applications.
Test
Standard
Dimension
V8991-75
Elastomer base
FKM
Color
ocher
Hardness
DIN 53505
Shore A
75
Specific weight
DIN EN ISO 183-1
g/cm3
1,94
Tensile strength
DIN 53504
N/mm2
18,5
Ultimate elongation
DIN 53504
%
273
Modulus (100 %)
DIN 53504
N/mm2
6,8
Low-temperature properties TR10
ASTM D 1329
°C
-7
Compression Set (70 h / 200 °C)
DIN ISO 815
%
30
Table 1: Physical data of HiFluor® FB V8991
O-rings and molded parts made of the newly developed HiFluor® FB compound V8991 are also particularly well suited for use in direct contact with the food or pharmaceutical products. In addition, Parker Prädifa always attaches major importance to compliance with the laws and regulations in target markets when developing new compound solutions for chemical and process engineering. Particularly in processes requiring a high level of purity of the final product, the meantime between failure (MTBF) of the component used is very important. A sealing element that has been attacked by chemicals will release particles that may enter the food product or batch of pharmaceutical ingredients, making them unfit for consumption. This may result in major financial losses. Due to its proven very good media resistance, the HiFluor® FB compound is superbly suited for use in many food, pharmaceutical and life science applications.
Characteristics of HiFluor® FB V8991
- Outstanding resistance in use with alkalis, acids, greases, oils and aromatic substances
- Good resistance in use with CIP/SIP media, steam up to 150 °C
- Wide temperature application range from -25 °C to 200 °C
- Very pure material, free from phtalates and mineral oil based plasticizers
- Approvals/conformities
- FDA Section 21 CFR177.2600
- USP Class VI
- 3-A Sanitary Standards Class I + II
- Free of animal-derived ingredients
- BNIC
- Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004
- Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (REACH)
- RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU
After using seals made of HiFluor® FB V8991, customers in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and life science sectors have confirmed that they were able to increase MTBF for repaired units by 300 percent. In addition to improving their process quality, customers were able to considerably increase their productivity and the safety of their products which, not least thanks to the sealing compound, are fully traceable.
A Success Story from the Field
Smoothies have literally been on everyone’s lips in recent years. The pureed fruit or vegetables offered in small containers have become a staple on supermarket cooling shelves. Easy to consume on the fly, smoothies cater for our modern lifestyle while giving us the reassuring feeling of getting plenty of vitamins and strengthening our immune system.
Unlike fruit juices, smoothies are produced from the whole fruit which may even include the skin. Bananas are often a basic ingredient, although juices, water, green tea, milk, other dairy products or coconut milk are used as well, depending on the recipe. Some smoothies even contain chocolate or peanut butter. The wide variety of fruit acids, aromatic or flavoring substances and dairy products, combined with abrasive components, poses a major challenge to the entire processing chain, particularly the seals in the production and bottling lines. Many standard sealing compounds no longer meet these demands.
More Information:
EMG Report Edition November 2016, Page 18
Brochure: Materials for the Chemical Process and Food Industries, Page 12
Article contributed by
Elke Vöhringer-Klein
Market Manager Chemical Processing Industry
Engineered Materials Group Europe, Prädifa Technology Division
A Guide to Selecting the Proper Sealing Material for Food Applications
New Material nobrox Increases Design Freedom for Seals and Engineered Components