CERAMIC BRUSH SEALS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THE BUILDING AND INITIAL TESTING OF A CERAMIC BRUSH SEAL. THE TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED WORK ARE TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE CERAMIC MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRUSH SEALS, DEMONSTRATE THAT A CERAMIC BRUSH SEAL CAN BE BUILT AND TO TEST THE INTEGRITY OF THE CERAMIC SEAL. THE CERAMIC INDUSTRY WILL BE CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE BOTH CERAMIC FIBERS AND CERAMIC MATERIALS WITH WHICH TO BUILD THE SEAL. TWO METHODS OF ACHIEVING A CERAMIC BRUSH SEAL WILL BE TRIED. A MECHANICALLY HELD BRISTLE SEAL WILL BE COMPARED TO A BONDED BRISTLE SEAL TO EVALUATE THEIR RESPECTIVE BENEFITS. THE PROPOSED WORK WILL PRODUCE A CERAMIC BRUSH SEAL THAT WILL BE TESTED FOR WEAR AND SEALING CAPABILITIES. THE TEST DATA WILL BE COMPARED TO THAT OF SIMILIAR METALLIC BRUSH SEALS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT CERAMIC BRUSH SEALS WILL PROVE TO BE SUPERIOR TO THEIR METALLIC COUNTERPARTS IN BOTH WEAR AND TEMPERATURE CAPABILITIES. THESE SUPERIOR ATTRIBUTES OF CERAMIC BRUSH SEALS CAN GREATLY ENHANCE THE INDUSTRY ACKNOWLEDGED PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY OF BRUSH SEALS.