Parker to showcase sealing materials for sensitive processes

Purity and stability of the materials used for the sealing elements and sealing systems in food and pharmaceutical production processes are prerequisites for the safety of the final products intended for human consumption. As well as industrial production systems, this includes appliances for catering and food service operations, and for domestic use, such as food processors and coffee machines.

To protect the health of consumers the materials must comply with specific legal requirements and standards, depending on their application. The harmlessness of the materials for the intended uses, such as applications involving contact with foodstuffs and drinking water, must have been certified by relevant approvals and conformities. Equally important to consumer safety is that the materials are free of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), phthalates, mineral oil based plasticisers and animal-derived ingredients (ADI).

In addition, qualitative aspects such as neutrality with respect to taste and odour generally have to be ensured whenever materials are utilised in food and beverage production. In the production process, the sealing compounds must not release any components which - even if not harmful to human health - would affect the quality of the final product in any way that could be perceived by the senses or otherwise.

As particularly the processes in the food and beverage sector are as wide and varied as the products themselves, they make special demands on the seals and sealing compounds used in them as well - be it in terms of resistance against chemical substances and various process media, temperatures, pressures and mechanical loads or special sanitary requirements. Of particular relevance here are CIP/SIP processes for cleaning and sterilisation involving disinfectants, superheated steam and acids. The reliable functionality and durability of the seals has to be ensured even in harsh application conditions.

This broad spectrum of requirements can only be covered by a wide range of materials and material groups. The appropriate selection from Parker Prdifa's extensive portfolio of sealing compounds is made based on the required properties profile in combination with the necessary approvals and conformities existing for the respective material. With pure to ultra-pure materials optimised for the respective applications in the material groups of EPDM, NBR, FKM, FFKM, TPU, PK, PTFE and metal Parker Prdifa offers precisely this diversity of possible choices and combinations to be showcased in Hanover this year, for example:

• EPDM compounds for highly sensitive production processes in the food and beverage industry, biotechnology and medical device technology. Properties: very good media resistance in hot water, steam, lyes and acids, in polar CIP/SIP media and resulting long life even in cleaning and sterilisation processes. Approvals/conformities: FDA, USP Class VI, 3A, (EC) No. 1935/2004
• EPDM compounds for drinking water applications. Properties: very good mechanical properties, outstanding compression set, good low-temperature performance down to -50degC. Approvals/conformities: FDA, WRAS, W270
• NBR compounds for food applications. Properties: very good media resistance in media containing oil and grease, very good wear resistance. Approvals/conformities: FDA, (EC) No. 1935/2004.
• FKM and HiFluor compounds for the food and beverage industry, biotechnology and medical device technology. Properties: excellent media and temperature resistance. Approvals/conformities: FDA, 3A USP Class VI, (EC) No. 1935/2004, BNIC
• Parofluor FFKM compounds for the food/beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Properties: pure high-performance compounds with extended service life and suitability for extreme chemical and thermal requirements. Approvals/conformities: FDA, (EC) No. 1935/2004, USP Class VI.
• TPU compounds for food industry applications including food gases and household appliances. Properties: high wear resistance, good hydrolysis resistance and good permeation properties. Approvals/conformities: FDA, (EC) No. 1935/2004.
• PTFE compounds for the food industry.Properties: best media resistance and widest temperature range, excellent friction behaviour. Approvals/conformities: FDA, (EC) No. 1935/2004, USP Class VI.
• PK compound nobrox for sealing elements and engineered components in the food industry. Properties: outstanding wear resistance, chemical resistance and resilience. Approvals/conformities: FDA, (EC) No. 1935/2004, USP Class VI.
• Metal seals for harsh application conditions, outside the application range of polymer materials

Parker Prdifa's portfolio of sealing systems for the chemical process, food and pharma industries ranges from conventional O-rings to highly complex multi-component options. Learn more at www.parker.com.