SEALING MATERIALS

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IS NEEDED TO BROADEN THE TEMPERATURE RANGE OF ENGINEERING PLASTICS FOR CHEMICAL, THERMAL AND FLUID AGING STABILITY OF SEALING MATERIALS OF THE O DEG C. TO 400 DEG C. TEMPERATURE RANGE. CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE SUFFER FROM ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING LIMITATIONS: THEY DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE THERMAL STABILITY; THEY ARE NOT EASILY PROCESSABLE AND LACK THE REQUIRED BONDING CHARACTERISTICS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM HAS AS IT OBJECTIVE PROOF OF FEASIBILITY OF A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR PREPARING HIGH TEMPERATURE PLASTICS BLENDED WITH METALS. THE METAL-PLASTIC COMBINATION ALLOWS HEAT TO DISSIPATE MORE READILY AND FACILITATES EASY AND IMPROVED PROCESSABILITY FOR SEALING PURPOSES. IN THE METAL-PLASTIC BLENDING PROCESS, THERE ARE PRODUCED NEWLY EXPOSED VIRGIN METAL SURFACES WHICH BOND INTIMATELY TO THE MOLTEN PLASTICS, RESULTING IN A HIGHLY REINFORCED STRUCTURE. SUCH A STRUCTURE, BASED ON HIGH TEMPERATURE LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS, IS A CANDIDATE FOR USE IN ADVANCED GAS TURBINES, ENGINES FUEL CONTROLS AND HYDRAULIC SEALING SYSTEMS.