Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has launched its Ultra High Temp Seal.
The revolutionary makeup and design means aircraft manufacturers can develop engines that run more efficiently and, by achieving lower fuel consumption, more sustainably.
Quinn Collett, Airframe General Manager, said: “The hotter an engine runs, the more thrust is obtained from the same amount of fuel, making the engine more efficient with lower fuel consumption. Aircraft designers aim to run engines at continuously higher temperatures with the latest options operating at +600 °F and beyond, significantly higher than their predecessors.”
At these extreme temperatures, specialised fire seals help ensure the safety of passengers onboard.
Collet continues, “Up until now, no high temperature fire seals existed that could operate up to +600 °F and also meet all fire seal requirements of customers. The Ultra High Temp Seal is completely unique. Its patent-pending design overcomes the inherent silicone characteristic of relaxation and compression set at elevated temperatures; a major cause of failure in a fire seal’s ability to perform against all requirements. This means that the Ultra High Temp Seal can successfully operate in high temperature aircraft engine applications.”
In heat soak tests, the Ultra High Temp Seal performed better than other fire seals and in all cases it was below a 15% permanent set target.
As the Ultra High Temp Seal eliminates the need for thermal protection of sealing elements, this provides a further weight saving and part count reduction, making assembly easier.
The Ultra High Temp Seal is proven to operate at a temperature range from -40 °C/ -40°F to up +315 °C/ +600 °F while meeting all customers’ fire seal requirements.
It has also been engineered to have a life time of 60,000 flight cycles (take off, flight and landing), dependent on application.
The Ultra High Temp seal can also be a drop-in replacement for seals that do not currently meet all fire seal requirements, such as high temperature operation, or for customers seeking extended life than that provided by their existing seals.