James Walker Launches New Generation Elastomer Technology

The launch of the first of the James Walker New Generation elastomers at ONS 2010 has created a step-change in elastomer sealing performance for the oil and gas industry.

The launch followed a two year programme of intensive research, development and testing to provide real advances in performance and avoid compromised solutions where some material properties are advanced at the expense of others - a common feature of new materials development as competitors rush to make new improved claims.

With testing to establish the limits of the new polymer architecture still ongoing, FR68/90 has already exceeded Norsok compliance specifications, achieving a perfect test result not only at 8.40mm section at 100°C but also at 5.33mm section at an elevated temperature of 150 °C.

This enhanced RGD performance is not achieved at the expense of other material characteristics however. FR68/90 retains flexibility for ease of fitting and offers excellent sealability with compression set figures of just 8% after 24 hours @ +175°C and 10% after 24 hours @ +200°C.

Add to this, superb Amine and H₂S resistance plus an operational temperature capability of -30°C to +200°C and FR68/90 has the capability to take elastomeric sealing into new territory, extending the use of elastomeric materials to larger sections than previously possible with no loss of RGD resistance - a factor that can eliminate the need for complex and costly re-engineering of components to accept physically larger solutions such as spring energised PTFE seals.

Although the New Generation polymer architecture significantly extends the performance envelope of elastomeric materials, these new materials will by no means replace the existing market leading materials in the James Walker range such as Elast-O-Lion 101 and FR58/90 which remain the best available technology for many current oil and gas industry applications.