Choosing the right seals for your cold-temperature and cryogenic valves will depend on the stipulations of your media and processing needs. Various media present unique problems when it comes to the success rate of a seal: wear and tear is caused by repeated valve cycling, pressure, and thermal expansion, as well. In addition to these challenges, cryogenic seals are exposed to extreme negative temperatures, which complicates seal performance.
Why do Cold Temperatures Require Special Seals?
Extreme cold can wreak havoc on valve seal integrity. If the seal material is not adequate to handle a temperature exceeding its cold rating, it will fail, which can result in the valve freezing or worse. The term "cold temperatures" can mean a range anywhere from below -51 degrees Fahrenheit to as low as -321 degrees Fahrenheit. Some cryogenic processes deal with even colder temperatures, but the point is that the differences in range require different seals, in this case either Teflon, KEL-F, or TFM, each of which was designed to handle specific temperatures and/or conditions, and are the most common choices for valve seal selection.
Common Cryogenic Seals
Teflon: Teflon (PTFE) was invented by DuPont chemist Roy Plunkett in 1938 and later found widespread use in extreme-temperature and aerospace applications due to its chemical resistance and performance across a wide temperature range. A Teflon seal is typically classified as being either"virgin" Teflon PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or RTFE, which is virgin Teflon reinforced with another material, such as 15% fibrous glass for valve applications. The advantage of Teflon is that it is extremely resistant to a wide range of chemicals. Because of this compatibility, Teflon seals are often preferable over ones made completely of carbon. They provide better lubrication with higher corrosion resistance.
KEL-F: KEL-F, also designated as PCTFE, is a fluorocarbon-based thermoplastic and a legacy trademark associated with the 3M Corporation. KEL-F has an incredibly low water vapor transmission rating among plastics. It can operate at temperatures as low as -400 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit. KEL-F retains high tensile strength, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and is nonflammable. KEL-F seals also offer zero-moisture absorption and chemical resistance.
TFM: Widely known by the brand name Super-Tek, TFM is a hybrid material similar to PTFE, but with greater versatility. TFM has a temperature rating of -50 degrees to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and offers a low friction coefficient at low torques. It is less permeable than Teflon, and offers much better resistance to cold flow deformation--enhanced deformation recovery characteristics.
Cryogenic Seals
Cryogenic seals inside a cryogenic valve are expected to do much more than just be cold resistant: they must provide a tight, leak-proof seal while maintaining shape under duress; they must reduce the severity of cycling fluctuations and other stresses associated with valve cycling speeds, as well as the pressures produced by media, and media velocities. Each of the aforementioned seals addresses these particular aspects and provides protection against pressure and thermal fluctuations. Teflon, KEL-F, and TFM are the top choices for seal material in a wide variety of cryogenic valves, as they provide versatility, reliability, and longevity in a broad operating temperature range. Valve performance relies heavily on the integrity of seals, especially in cryogenic seals, as they are subjected to harsher internal environments.
ValveMan.com Is Your Cryogenic Headquarters
Let our valve store handle your cryogenic processing needs. As an industrial-grade valve supplier with over 60 years of experience, we are more than familiar with the numerous operating demands and peculiarities synonymous with cryogenic seals. Knowing the finer details--and the fact that we only sell valves--is what separates us from our competition. It's simply what we do, and we do it better than anyone else.
