Summary
In the automobile industry, elastomer composite materials are used, for example, in bearings, dynamic seals, power transmission elements or pipes. Here, they are exposed to a steadily increasing load; however, the specifications expected of them in terms of resistance, durability, and operational safety also increase to an equal degree.
The project includes tests on wear and tear and aging mechanisms of fluoroelastomer regarding practice-oriented loads (thermal, medial, static, and dynamic load) on pilot systems and selected components.
Results:
- There is a basic connection between the polymer micro-structure and network structure, and between the settling characteristics, as well as thermal and dynamic load.
- For an increased durability of fluoroelastomer components, a thorough material selection of base polymer for material optimisation is recommended with respect to specific product requirements. This specially holds true for the endurance limit of crosslinked-peroxide fluoroelastomers.
- Depending on the type of polymer used, as well as the vulcanisation and temperature requirements, material failure can be expected on exceeding the critical temperature threshold, primarily in overlapping internal pressure pulsation, and on using corrosive media.
- The detected location and depth-dependent lack of homogeneity of network node density is strongly affected by energy input during vulcanisation and tempering. The resulting microscopic defects from local over- and under-vulcanisation cannot be adjusted through thermal post-treatment.
