Flying High… for Hours

When Freudenberg Sealing Technologies learned of its aerospace customers’ needs, it launched development project to formulate a new EPDM. The project, led by Dr. Paul Hochgesang, a Materials Research Fellow based in the company’s Plymouth, Michigan, Central Laboratories, resulted in the development of several new EPDM formulas. These formulas used more advanced monomer and polymer technology for a better balance of high and low temperature behaviors. While these formulas showed excellent results in meeting the material standards required in the Aerospace Industry, they still could not pass prolonged cold testing without losing strength and becoming brittle.

“We blended a variety of ingredients, including plasticizers, fillers and heat stabilizers, and still could not achieve the temperature gradient our customers needed,” Hochgesang said. “That’s when the company’s material and sourcing experts in Germany and Japan stepped in to help.” Hochgesang was introduced to a new, largely unknown industrial polymer. When added to a new EPDM formulation, the resulting material not only met, but exceeded, the cold temperature requirements needed by aerospace customers. The final development of 80 EPDM 426288 took less than six months to complete. “This is a clear example of international collaboration among Freudenberg’s scientific community that has achieved results by pooling the knowledge and capabilities of global colleagues,” Hochgesang said. “This kind of cooperation is essential when we are working through tough customer challenges.”

Seals and components made from 80 EPDM 426288 have already been manufactured and tested in North America and Europe by several major aerospace manufacturers and system suppliers. Based on extremely positive customer feedback and reports, production of aerospace O-rings made from this new EPDM has been launched.