With PTFE bellows, it was previously possible to reinforce highly stressed areas with PEEK. It also made sense to use compounds for wrench flats, threads, and guide surfaces. When using PFAS-free bellows made of polyethylene, this is no longer necessary. Due to the strength of the alternative materials Endulfon P1 and P16, one-piece bellows can
To transmit higher forces into a PTFE bellows, reinforcement using sintered-in steel components has often been used. Bellows made of UHMW-PE generally do not require additional metal components. Only because of the somewhat higher thermal expansion are additional steel components sometimes screwed in, snapped into place, or clamped in place.
Until now, Teflon® bellows made of virgin PTFE have been the standard. Since this fluoropolymer has come under scrutiny as an environmentally critical material, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) has increasingly gained importance. Components made from this material can likewise be machined and therefore individually customized. PE 1000 offers exceptional flex fatigue resistance. The material is physiologically
For standard applications, design engineers typically specify bellows made of elastomers such as NBR, EPDM, FKM, or silicone. The advantages include low manufacturing costs at higher production volumes and forgiving behavior at larger strokes. Lateral, angular, and axial displacements can occur simultaneously. This even allows applications in which the bellows are subjected to torsional loads.
Can PTFE components replace rubber seals? Bellows and diaphragms are used in engineering as so-called “hermetic seals” that can seal moving components without leakage.Both technical terms actually originate from names for thin membranes of animal origin.Historically, these were initially used to make drinking bladders and bellows.Today, these terms refer to components that are clamped between
