Seal element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016122608-A1
Application number	US-201414893046-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2014
Priority date	May 22, 2013
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a seal element made in an elastomeric composite, said material comprising an elastomeric polymer and a phase change material (PCM), wherein the PCM is able to provide thermal energy to the elastomeric polymer upon cooling to the phase transition point of the PCM.

First claim

1 : A seal element which is comprised of an elastomeric composite comprising an elastomeric polymer blended with a phase change material (PCM), the PCM having a heat of fusion larger than 100 kJ/kg and a phase transition point within the temperature range of 233-288 K, wherein the PCT provides heat to the elastomeric polymer upon cooling of the seal element to the phase transition point of the PCM.

2 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of PCM is in the range of 1-25% v/v based on the total volume of the elastomeric composite at 20° C.

3 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric composite constitutes more than 20% v/v, more than 50% v/v, more than 90% v/v, more than 95% v/v or more than 99% v/v of said seal element based on the total volume of the seal element.

4 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM has a heat of fusion greater than 150 kJ/kg, greater than 200 kJ/kg, greater than 300 kJ/kg or greater than 350 kJ/kg.

5 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the phase transition point is within the temperature range of 243-283 K.

6 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is a synthetic rubber.

7 : A seal element according to claim 6 , wherein the synthetic rubber is chosen from the group of NBR (nitrile butadienes), HNBR (hydrogenated nitrile butadienes), FKM (fluoroelastomers) or FFKM (perfluoroelastomers), or any combination thereof.

8 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM is chosen from the group of paraffins including octadecane, fatty acids, fatty esters, alcohols, glycols, salt hydrates, ionic liquids, water, eutectic solutions, eutectic metals, metals with low melting points, or any combination thereof.

9 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM has a solid-liquid phase change at the transition point.

10 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM has a solid-solid phase change at the transition point.

11 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM is linked to or is an integrated part of a polymer material.

12 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM is encapsulated in macro-, micro- or nanosized capsules having a mean diameter size of from 0.1 nm to 5 mm.

13 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM is in the form of granules or particles.

14 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the PCM is evenly distributed throughout the elastomeric composite.

15 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of the seal element is PCM-free or the PCM only occupies an internal volume of the seal element.

16 : A seal element according to claim 1 , wherein the heat is sufficient to increase the temperature of the elastomeric polymer in the range of 5 to 50 K when the seal element is cooled to the phase transition point of the PCM.

17 : Use of a phase change material (PCM) material in an elastomeric composite of a seal element, the PCM having a heat of fusion larger than 100 kJ/kg and a phase transition point within the temperature range of 233-288 K, and the elastomeric composite comprising an elastomeric polymer blended with the PCM.

18 : A method of manufacturing a seal element comprising the steps of:
obtaining an elastomeric composite comprising an elastomeric polymer blended with a phase change material (PCM) having a heat of fusion larger than 100 kJ/kg and a phase transition point within the temperature range of 233-288 K, the PCT providing heat to the elastomeric polymer upon cooling to the phase transition point of the PCM; and molding the elastomeric composite into at least a part of the seal element.

Assignees

• Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As

Inventors

• Akulichev Anton
• Thorkildsen Brede

Classifications

• C09K3/1009 Primary

  Fluorinated polymers, e.g. PTFE · CPC title

• C09K2003/1053

  Elastomeric materials · CPC title

• C09K2200/0612

  Butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber · CPC title

• C09K3/1006

  characterised by the chemical nature of one of its constituents · CPC title

• C09K5/063

  Materials absorbing or liberating heat during crystallisation; Heat storage materials · CPC title