Kalrez® Spectrum™ 6380 Offers Amine Resistance to Improve MTBR

Case Study

A.W. Chesterton

A major chemical company switched to DuPont^™Kalrez^®Spectrum^™ 6380 perfluoroelastomer parts for amine resistance and increased mean time between repairs (MTBR). MTBR improved 3x in a mechanical seal for hot, aggressive amines.

The Challenge

A.W. Chesterton was challenged to improve the mean time between repairs (MTBR) in a mechanical seal for a hot, primary amine service at a major chemical facility in Texas. Realizing that elastomer performance was a critical component in improving seal lifetime, A.W. Chesterton contacted DuPont to provide a technologically advanced O-ring solution.

The Solution

Hot, primary amines are extremely aggressive towards elastomers causing their performance to degrade prematurely. Aware of these incompatibilities, DuPont developed a product that would outperform existing elastomers in oxidizing media as well as hot, aggressive amines. The result was Kalrez^®Spectrum^™6380, a cream-colored perfluoroelastomer part.

Based on the Texas facility’s process conditions, Kalrez^® Spectrum^™ 6380 was the natural choice for the application. Kalrez^® Spectrum^™ 6380 seal was installed and still in service after one year. The Texas facility had previously tried numerous perfluoroelastomer parts from various manufacturers, but none were able to improve MTBR beyond four months. Due to the 3x improvement in MTBR, the Texas facility continues to specify Kalrez^®Spectrum^™ 6380 as the preferred elastomer seal in their amine service.

Application Summary

Temperature: 410^°F (210^°C)
Incumbent Seal: Various perfluoroelastomers from different manufacturers lasted only 4 months
MTBR after Kalrez^® Spectrum^™ 6380: >1 year

As seal lifetime becomes more predictable, production facilities can operate more safely using reliable preventative maintenance schedules that go beyond their current performance levels.

Key Advantages

Every Kalrez^®perfluoroelastomer part is formulated to meet the demands of the chemical processing industry using proprietary technology developed by DuPont and is involved in the manufacture of Kalrez^® perfluoroelastomer parts from the time raw materials are procured until the time finished parts are shipped. This ensures that each Kalrez^® part is of the highest quality and satisfies ISO 3601-3 and AS568C requirements.

DuPont™ Kalrez^®Spectrum^™6380 is part of the Kalrez^® Spectrum^™ family of perfluorelastomer seals known for their high performance in a broad range of chemical processing environments. Kalrez^® Spectrum^™ 6380 excels in hot, aggressive amines and oxidizing media. 6380 is offered in all standard AS568 and metric sizes and is also available in various custom O-ring sizes and shapes.

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