COMPRESSOR PISTON SEALING MATERIAL

Consultant providing sealing solutions for Reciprocating Compressors.

 High-performance polymer alloys engineered for lubricated and non-lubricated

reciprocating compressor piston rings, rider-bands, and packing. Polymer alloys
Compound, selected from following Base Resins:

• PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)

• PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)

• PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)

• PI (Polyimide)

This variety of base resins allows for outstanding performance in environments

ranging from natural gas and air to bone-dry process gases.

For a range of applications, the filled PTFE family provides a superior self-lubricated
material with excellent strength, high hardness, and improved wear resistance by
combining PTFE with carbon, graphite, glass fibre, molybdenum disulphide, copper
& bronze.

For lubricated service, time-proven bronze and cast iron are still commonly used
materials. For non-lubricated, Low-friction materials are capable of running
without lubrication. By careful formulation and selection of filler materials, the
sliding wear behaviour or self-lubricating properties of filled PTFE materials have
been improved to give longer lifetimes, especially in dry gases. But should not be
operated under conditions of intermittent oil supply which usually results in high
ring wear. Rider bands & piston rings and packing are made from PTFE (Teflon)
with various fillers such as Glass fibre 5-25%( hardness, can be very
abrasive), Carbon 10-35% ( deformation strength, Performs well in water and
steam applications), Graphite 5-15%(excellent wear properties, is good where
aluminium and water are concerned.), Bronze 40-60%(high thermal
conductivity), MoS2 5-7%(reduce friction, is excellent in dry gas with better wear),
all the above are compression moulded made .

    High performance engineering thermoplastic material are made from hot

compression moulding, proprietary filled PEEK compound for higher pressures and
temperatures applications. PI Polyimide Resin (chemical resistance,
temperature, Excellent in dry service), PPS (elevated temperatures and pressures).
Thermoplastic materials based on Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and Polyimide (PI)
represent the high engineering segment or the high-performance polymer alloys. All
these materials are products of powder technology.   

For extreme conditions, dry gases and high pressure, the resin-bonded grade together
with the PEEK-based materials best available.

Actual field experience in a closely matching gas type is the best guide to the proper
selection of ring (and counter surface) material. Any selected polymer has gas
pressure and temperature application limits.

Among of more than 50 used materials, below 10 best available

materials selected which covers almost all operation condition.

This wide range of application performance is detailed in the Materials Selection

Guide be
M 01: PTFE filled with carbon and graphite, Standard materials suitable for low-
pressure air and gas compressors. It applies to lube all gases and oil-free conditions.
This material is resistant to most chemicals, recommended for piston rings, rider
rings, and rod packing.

M 02: PTFE filled with glass fibre reinforced &..,. It applies to oil lubricated and oil
free working conditions. And also, the oxygen compressor, dry gas compressor
preferred sealing material. BAM certified for use in oxygen compressor working
conditions.

M 03: PTFE filled with Bronze and molybdenum disulphide has better thermal
conductivity than carbon and glass filled PTFE compounds, especially recommended
for non-lubricated wet air temperatures up to 200 ° C in the air compressors, such as
PET compressor.

M 04: PTFE filled with Carbon & glass fibre &. Offers better lubricity recommended
for Oil and Oil-free applications. It is a preferred material for oil-free natural gas
applications, and H2S containing gases. 

M 05: PTFE filled with Polymeric fillers &.., this material is particularly suitable for
the oil-free Bone-dry gas condition, such as hydrogen, and sulphur-containing gases,
has excellent chemical resistance to the most chemicals except chlorine. Suggested
mean temperature limit (Ts +Td)/2, non-lube gas compressors (130°C). An ideal
material for low temperature working conditions (methane, ethylene, and propane) is
used. not recommended for use in oil-lubricated compressors.

M 06: PTFE filled with Polymeric filler &.., this material is suitable for Bone-Dry
Nitrogen, Argon, and Helium. Suggested mean temperature limit (125°C), it has an
excellent wear resistance. 

M 07: Hot compression moulded proprietary filled PEEK base. This material is
particularly suitable for dry (oil-free) or oil-lubricated high-pressure compressor. But
also the high-pressure conditions of ethylene, hydrogen, and other gases replace the
ideal medium-low material strength of filled PTFE material. 

M 08: Hot compression moulded proprietary filled PEEK compound for a higher
duty. This material is particularly suitable in the dry (oil-free) and oil-lubricated
high-pressure compressor.

M 09: PTFE filled with glass fibre especially suitable for oil lubrication conditions and
sensitive to gas carbon. Suitable for oil free dry gas and medical products used a
compressor. It has been developed for use in oxidising gases and those sensitive to
MoS2.
M 11: PTFE filled with Bronze, Particularly suitable for high-pressure air compressor
better than M 03 (such as PET compressor). Heat resistance and thermal stability are
very good. Wear resistance and long service life. 

CONCLUSIONS:

Three grades of materials developed, primary standard grade, intermediate grades,

and advanced polymer grade. These 10 best available materials cover almost all
operation condition and process gases. Exact components %, sintering temperature,
moulding pressure and the process of productions are confidential, and they have
many trade names. A few producers can make all of them. Make sure you get updated
the best materials and designs for your ceilings on the reciprocating compressor.

Mehmet Samancioglu

Compressor Sealing Technical Consultant

Guarniflon SPA

Ankara 18.10.2016