Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies announces premium clamp gaskets made of elastomer materials

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Clamp gaskets made of the black premium compound 70 EPDM 291 are a proven sealing solution from Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. Now the sealing specialist has succeeded in manufacturing tube connection seals for the food and pharmaceutical industries from other premium materials as well, including silicone rubber (VMQ) and Fluoroprene XP.

Clamp gaskets are used to seal tube connections in continuously operated equipment. They offer an important advantage of being easily separated and especially easily installed, despite their secure connection. Thanks to their standardized dimensions in accordance with DIN 32676, clamp gaskets are also readily available. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies offers a special portfolio  to meet the special requirements of the food and pharmaceutical industries. It includes the premium materials 70 EPDM 291, 70 EPDM 253815, 75 Fluoroprene XP 41 and 70 VMQ 117055.

EPDM stands out for its resistance to water and water-based systems. EPDM is equally usable in hot water, steam, acids, bases and polar media. Thermal stresses (-40 degrees C to +150 degrees C) cannot harm this material. The black 70 EPDM 291 is ADI-free and conforms to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, EC Regulation 1935/2004, 3-A Sanitary Standards Class II and USP Class VI (121 degrees C).

To evaluate its capabilities, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies tested 70 EPDM 291 and two materials from other manufacturers. 70 EPDM 291 shows only slight changes in volume and stability after a week of storage in commonly used (acid and base) CIP media at +80 degrees C. By contrast, the other materials show swelling greater than 10 percent and a loss of stability greater than 20 percent. This development by Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies also maintains its mechanical properties after a week of storage in SIP media (peroxide cleaner and steam) at +60 degrees C. Comparatively, the other materials tested exhibit a loss of strength of more than 70 percent.  EPDM 291 is even suited to dynamic applications.

White sealing materials are in demand for high-purity applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has developed a white 70 EPDM 253815 for this purpose; despite its mineral filler, it exhibits nearly the same outstanding qualities as its black counterpart. It is ADI-free and conforms to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, EC Regulation 1935/2004, 3-A Sanitary Standards Class II and USP Class VI (121 degrees C). EPDM 253815 exhibits an unusually good mechanical load capacity and low swell rates. The material also withstands thermal influences from -40 to +150 degrees C. White EPDM is also extremely abrasion-proof, which gives it a long operating life.

Fluoroprene XP materials from Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies combine the advantages of EPDM and FKM. The blue 75 Fluoroprene XP 41 is resistant to both fatty and aggressive media, along with demanding CIP/SIP cleaning processes. In particular, due to its multifaceted resistance, Fluoroprene XP 41 is the best choice for applications involving flavors in the food industry, such as filling processes for flavored drinks. The material is ADI-free and conforms to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, EC Regulation 1935/2004, and USP Class VI (121 degrees C).

If the usage involves applications with high thermal requirements (-50 degrees C to +200 degrees C) and cleaning processes without steam sterilization, but with less aggressive media, then 70 VMQ 117055 is the ideal sealing material. It is also resistant to animal, ethereous and plant fats or oils. Due to its purity, reflected visually in its transparent color, it is a preferred option in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is ADI-free and conforms to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, EC Regulation 1935/2004, 3-A Sanitary Standards Class I and USP Class VI (121 degrees C).

The portfolio described here not only covers all the requirements of the food and pharmaceutical industries, it is also available without additional tooling costs. Thanks to the comprehensive resistance database at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, recommendations for individual process conditions can also be obtained quickly and securely.

For more information on clamp gaskets, talk to our specialists at the Freudenberg Sealing Technologies stand at Powtech / TechnoPharm (Hall 6, Stand 227) from Sept. 30 to Oct, 2, in Nuremberg.

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Co. in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan. Freudenberg-NOK is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.fnst.com.

SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies