Wikipedia Journal

From the beginning when man took his first tentative steps into outerspace, space propulsion has remained largely the same. Even with the incremental advances in the efficiency of chemical fuels and O rings, the basic nature of rocketry is still defined by the basic Delta V Rocket Equation with all its limitations; be it the powerful boosters used to obtain orbital velocity or the low impulse Ion Thrusters used to power deep space missions. This backward approach to propulsion limits both the potential flight parameters of deep space missions and the life span of earth orbiting satellites in a wide range of applications.

The electronics and gasket seals of the satellite may last indefinitely in earth orbiting satellites; the useable lifespan of that satellite is limited by the availability of on-board propellants used for orbital maintenance. Under normal operating environments, a space vehicle’s components, such as its rubber o-rings> and silicone seals can go on and on. It is only once the chemical propellant is exhausted, when the satellite no longer has the capability of maintaining a station properly. This is where electro-magnetic propulsion and electro-dynamic braking comes in.

Chemical propellants allow the International Space Station to offset orbital decay. The need and use of these chemical propellants increases the potential for catastrophic accident, increases the cost of operational maintenance, and requires the commitment of launch capacity for that purpose. Interplanetary and deep space missions face similar limitations inherent to dependence on chemical propellants for propulsion.

Obtainable velocities, launch windows, and other flight parameters remain severely limited by dependence upon the same Newtonian Propulsion methods used by the ancient Chinese to power their rudimentary rockets, despite the fact that gravitational assist has been a regular tool used in both navigation and imparting changes in specific orbital energy. Even Ion Propulsion, which uses electro-magnetic acceleration of the ion fuel to achieve impulse, is still a type of Newtonian Propulsion where the total energy imparted is limited by exhaust velocity and total available fuel mass as defined by the basic rocket equation. Newtonian Propulsion may have gotten us to earth orbit and beyond; but it will be Electro-magnetic propulsion that will carry us to the stars. In the mean time, its development will allow us to achieve flight parameters previously unattainable with only chemical propellants as the means of space propulsion.

Both Electro-magnetic Propulsion and it’s inverse, Electro-dynamic Braking, when combined with the now and near term future technologies related to super conductivity, dielectric capacitance, and other related technologies; will introduce a new paradigm in space propulsion and the space program as a whole. For additional information, visit www.real-seal.com/ at 1971 Don Lee Place, Escondido, CA 92029 to learn more.

O rings are typically made up of some type of elastomer, which is a type of synthetic rubber. The reason that synthetic materials are used is because they are more durable and can stand up to the job better than natural rubber. These are made to withstand higher pressure and temperatures, and designed for industrial applications where real rubber would fail. Therefore, when you are shopping for silicone seals and o rings, you will be far more likely to find synthetic products than actual rubber ones. There are a lot of different applications for these rings and each different type has a specific purpose that it is designed for.

With rubber o-rings, you have to remember that they might not always be actual rubber. In fact, you should be hoping that you’re not investing in actual rubber because it isn’t as strong, durable, or effective as synthetic products. You will need to make sure that you get the right type of elastomer and the proper o ring for whatever application you have in mind. There’s no point in investing in o ring products that don’t actually meet your needs for the purpose that you have, after all.

Specialty o-rings and o ring suppliers are easy to find online, allowing you to get more from your investment with less time and effort on your part. There are so many different types of specialized o ring products that you can find out there, no matter what you have in mind. There are plenty of different applications that require these simple, effective rubber rings and everyone can find exactly what they are looking for as long as they take a little time to explore the options and see what is available.

The job at hand is really what matters when it comes to investing in something like rubber and synthetic o rings. With so many different types of elastomer and other synthetic materials to choose from, technology has made it more effective to get the job done, no matter what the job might be. These rings are affordable, easy to buy, and available in quantities as large or small as people need. It doesn’t matter what you have in mind because you can find exactly what you need online, making sure that you get the job done right with the right parts every single time, no matter how big or small the job might be. For additional information, visit www.real-seal.com/ at 1971 Don Lee Place, Escondido, CA 92029 to learn more.

In order to keep up with the demands of the market, there are just a handful of manufacturing firms in the industry with a functional rubber laboratory on the premises, complete with technical personnel to provide testing & tech support. From the development of new materials such as rubber o-rings, to PPAP and statistical data capture, their laboratory meets the technical challenges of the market.

When in the market for a seals manufacturer, it is important to look for organizations that maintains a working laboratory and chemist on the premises that routinely develop analogs of the materials for targeted applications, and confirm the physical aspects of products and materials like O rings with ASTM testing. These laboratories and technical departments offer several advantages to consumers of rubber, plastic, and specialty seals products as the technical requirements of the industry continue to grow.

Remember to look for the recognized leaders in elastomeric material manufacturing and technology that continue to take advantage of advances in material science and manufacturing technology to offer the best in rubber and plastics materials. By staying on the cutting edge, they strive to make these improvements available to organization to improve the engineering and economical aspects of their products.

One of the basic fundamental differences that differentiate materials is the manufacturing method used to make a final product such as rubber o-rings Although a number of material types and manufacturing processes exist in the industry, the vast majority can be classified in one of two broad groups; thermosetting, or thermoplastic. Experienced manufacturing firms utilize manufacturing techniques and materials from both classes.

Thermosetting materials are typically vulcanized to achieve their final properties. Vulcanization is a process that utilizes heat, pressure and time to form chemical bonds that are not thermally reversible, meaning a material is irreversibly degraded by exposing it to prolonged temperatures above its service temperature range. Thermoset processing for rubber is usually done through procedures such as compression molding, transfer molding, rubber injection molding, or rubber extrusion.

Thermoplastic materials are fully processed chemically before being introduced into the manufacturing process. The bonds that are formed in the material are thermally reversible, meaning that they will break down with the addition of heat, and reform when that additional heat is removed. This allows thermoplastic material to be manufactured by plastics techniques such as injection molding, sheeting, extrusion, or thermoforming. For additional information, visit http://www.real-seal.com/ at 1971 Don Lee Place, Escondido, CA 92029 to learn more.

When you are in the market for a rubber and plastic sealing devices manufacturer, you can take out two birds with one stone by finding one who is also a distributor of mechanical component goods. Be sure to find out about the level of their technical expertise and ISO 9001 registered status. See if they maintain a stock in their own warehouse and are adept in creating logistical arrangements to maximize customer value. A good O rings and sealing devices manufacturer and distributor will have a quality system of operations designed to ensure integrity in each step of the process, translating to consistent product conformity.

An experienced manufacturer and distributor of silicone seals and other mechanical component assets will excel in both injection and compression molding of performance oriented rubber and plastic materials. It will be extremely responsive and will utilize the latest in material and manufacturing technology to provide the proper balance between sound engineering and competitive economies. The professionals at a good supplier of rubber o-rings and plastic materials will be in a position to offer the most competitive and efficient approach for creating solutions, while being committed to long-term relationships, and value through performance enhancement, product, longevity, technical support, and meeting commitments.

In sum, look for a company that takes ownership for their products and solutions; that doesn’t simply broker them out. Remember that a good supplier of performance oriented engineered rubber and plastic materials will quite often maintain a fully equipped laboratory, full-time chemist and technical staff, as well as possess the ability to assist with design challenges and formulate materials to meet specific criterion. Another important quality of a good supplier of these industry-specific manufacturing solutions is expertise in meeting the more fragmenting aspects of industry today. Industrial manufacturers are being tasked with offering consumers more choice, a wide latitude of performance criterion, and greater economic constraints. As American industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of today’s consumers and the challenges of international competition, it is more important than ever to have an industrial manufacturer who provides solutions and creates value on your side. For additional information, visit www.real-seal.com/ to learn more.

Almost anything can be broken down into smaller components and this is especially helpful in terms of discussing plant equipment and plant processes. The first step to determining failure modes is to think of a system or piece of equipment (down to seals and o-rings) as existing on separate levels to isolate where we think the components may be failing. This methodology ensures that every level of a process or equipment composition is examined for failure modes.

Consider this statement: One of the failure modes of an electric motor is that the windings and insulation fail due to high temperature as a result of friction within its individual parts, ie. pistons, gasket seals, etc. How high of a temperature causes the motor windings insulation to fail? If we look at the failure rate of motor insulation, we find that for every 20 degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature, the insulation life is cut in half. From this, we can conclude that the insulation in a motor that operates at 160 degrees F continuously will have a very high risk of failure between one and two years under normal operating conditions.

As an example, temperatures of motor and windings increase and consequently the life of the winding component is reduced by 50 percent or more in textile and oilseeds plants where the fan guard on the motor is covered with product. By understanding the failure rate of often found components like specialty seals, we can many times make changes to operations or preventive maintenance tasks in order to increase the life of the system. If you also understand that electric motors have more than 50 failure modes, you can start to see how some components such as high performance seals can last many life cycles more by changing the way we operate and maintain our equipment. This thinking process never ends. Let’s say we have a bearing that is failing early due to lubrication. There are 50 failure modes for your lube products. We have to eliminate many of these failures in order to achieve maximum life from the bearing. All lubricant failure modes can be eliminated and can add three to 10 times the life to the component. Then, we must understand that some of the bearing failures occur at the bearing distributor. Many bearing distributors and local stores don’t even have written procedures on how your bearings are handled, so damage occurs that may not be noticeable when you receive them at your plant. Failure modes for bearings occur at a higher rate of frequency in general.

When a sufficient number of failure modes can be identified and eliminated, many components in most industrial plants can last up to 10 to 20 times what they presently do. If we want to compete in the world marketplace, we need to get the training in RCM and RCA to be in that competitive group that will have a chance to stay in business and make a profit. The key is identifying training processes that improve knowledge and take companies to the next level. For additional information, visit www.real-seal.com/ to learn more.