WDK highlights role of rubber sealing in critical applications

Frankfurt – The German rubber industry association (WDK) has highlighted the importance of elastomer joint sealing strips used in hydraulic engineering, as part of its “Rubber – we save the world” campaign.

While rubber products such as car tires or pacifiers are highly visible in everyday life, WDK said many elastomer components perform demanding functions largely out of sight.

This is particularly true of joint sealing strips used in hydraulic structures such as locks and other concrete waterworks.

“Elastomer joint sealing strips are used in hydraulic engineering as expansion and construction joints to seal concrete structures made of watertight concrete,” said Volker Krings, chief chemist at WDK.

As a typical application, he cited locks on inland waterways.

“The conditions these joint seals have to withstand are extremely demanding,” Krings said, noting exposure to wind and weather as well as sustained high water pressure.

According to Krings, when a new lock is built, the elastomer joint sealing strip is installed in the structure’s foundation once the excavation has been completed.

The required elastomer strip is supplied on rolls and is progressively embedded in the concrete during construction, Krings added.

Even at this stage, the WDK economist said, the strips must endure “considerable mechanical stress, as the rolls are often moved around construction sites and subjected to knocking and bumping.”

Once construction is completed, the sealing elements are no longer visible.

Installed within the structure, they ensure watertight integrity and prevent leakage that could disrupt operations or cause vessels to run aground.

Addressing concerns over long-term maintenance, Krings said that if repairs are required after many years, new joint sealing strips can be fitted onto existing profiles.

“This can be done without having to demolish the lock beforehand,” he said.