Simrit develops elastomer nano-coating to minimise stick-slip

ERJ staff report (DS)

Plymouth, Michigan -- Simrit has developed a surface treatment process to improve seal function and service life.Called Reduced Friction by Nanotechnology (RFN), the system aims to redice the stick-slip inherent in many rubber compounds

Simrit said, "Elastomeric materials have inherently high surface energies (tackiness) and a high coefficient of friction (COF). Therefore, when an elastomeric seal makes contact with the mating component, the interface of the two surfaces can produce a "stiction" effect, which is detrimental when the contact is intermittent."

To prevent stiction, Simrit created the RFN process, which consists of applying its proprietary surface modification to rubber components to reduce the coefficient of friction. The transformed surface offers high abrasion resistance, low COF, resistance to aggressive fluids and improved long-term service. The RFN treatment is odorless, translucent in color and compatible with applications that require purity. Applications that require low stiction and long service life, such as valve sealing components and diaphragms, can greatly benefit from Simrit's RFN treatment.

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Press release from Simrit