SEDL / STP / STP1267-EB / STP16423S

The Seal Configuration Tester, a New Approach to the Evaluation of Elastomeric Materials for Oxygen Service

Haselmaier, LH
Project Engineer, Johnson Controls World Services, NASA, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS

Powell, BA
Engineer, Johnson Controls World Services, NASA, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1995

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Abstract

A new approach for evaluating elastomeric materials for use in high pressure oxygen has been developed. Because this approach replicates the dynamic forces that occur in pressure systems and subjects a specimen to progressive wear, it allows the user to compare wearability and oxygen sensitivity. This method determines if a candidate material ignites before it mechanically fails and provides a relative wearability ranking for that material.

Existing mechanical impact test methods produce data which is useful in screening various materials for oxygen sensitivity. The pass/fail data produced from these tests do not easily translate into a suitable material selection for a particular oxygen application. This new evaluation technique produces both mechanical wear data in combination with sensitivity data which can easily be applied when selecting elastomeric materials for a particular oxygen application.

An explanation of the process as well as sample data are presented.