The chemical and process industries are continually seeking new advanced materials to help extend the life of critical components. Syalon ceramics are at the forefront of this search.
Mechanical Seals
Mechanical seals are used in the chemical and process industries as seals in rotating equipment, such as pumps and compressors. For example, in a pump when a shaft rotates the liquid can leak out between the shaft and the pump casing. In this case a mechanical seal would be used, which basically consists of a hard material embedded in the casing and a softer material in the rotating shaft. These are made to be in intimate contact.
The choice of seal materials depends on the material being pumped, its chemical reactivity, the temperature and the pressure. In many cases, Syalon 101 makes an excellent choice for the hard seal material.
Impellers
Impellers are used in the chemical industry often for mixing or stirring highly corrosive chemicals and abrasive slurries. Traditionally impellers have been made from metal or plastic coated metals. These suffer badly from wear, thus contaminating the chemical, which in clean environments is unacceptable.
Syalon 101 is chemically stable to corrosion by many chemicals such as hydrochloric and sulphuric acids and alkalis such as sodium hydroxide. This behaviour combined with its excellent physical properties make Syalon 101 an ideal material for many demanding chemical applications.