Metallized Carbon Corporation, the manufacturer of oil-free, self-lubricating, carbon-graphite materials for severe service lubrication applications, has announced the availability of mechanical seal primary rings for sealing refrigerants and other low viscosity liquids. In addition, the company has appointed a new quality assurance manager.
Designing mechanical seals for sealing refrigerants and other low viscosity liquids has been a difficult problem for seal manufactures for years. It has now been established that mechanical seals with antimony impregnated, carbon-graphite primary rings and solid silicon carbide counter face rings can solve this problem. Low viscosity liquids such as Freon refrigerants, liquid oxygen, liquid carbon dioxide, propane, ethylene, and acetone are now being successfully sealed using mechanical seals with Metcar Grade M-444, antimony impregnated, carbon-graphite primary seal rings.
Low viscosity liquids are difficult for mechanical seals because the hydrodynamic film that they create between the two rubbing seal faces is extremely thin. In order for this extremely thin hydrodynamic film to lubricate the two sealing faces, the seal faces must stay highly polished and they must run in very close proximity to each other. It is the self-polishing characteristic of the M-444, antimony impregnated, carbon-graphite material and the high dimensional stability of both solid silicon carbide and antimony impregnated carbon-graphite that enables these two materials to run in the required close proximity. Ordinary mechanical seals with resin impregnated, carbon-graphite primary rings do not have the self-polishing characteristic or the dimensional stability that is required for sealing these low viscosity liquids.
The company has also announced that Roxanne Andrian has been appointed quality assurance manager at the business.
“We are delighted to have Roxanne join the Metcar team,” said Metallized Carbon president and CEO, Matthew Brennan, “Her experience will ensure we can continue to produce the high quality products our customers have learned to expect.”
Ms Andrian holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Montreal and has more than 13 years of experience in quality assurance in the aerospace, automotive, petrochemical, and oil and gas production industries.