At the 31st ACHEMA, the global forum for the chemical technology and process industry held from June 15 to June 19 in Frankfurt am Main in Germany, SGL Group – The Carbon Company – will be demonstrating its entire specialty graphite portfolio for sealing technology and mechanical applications. The company will present specialty graphite products made from both expanded natural graphite and fine-grain graphite that are used in the chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries as well as in solar technology, the automotive industry, in energy and environmental protection.
Burkhard Straube, Chairman of the Business Unit Graphite Materials & Systems: “Decades of experience and in-depth production and materials expertise are our foundation for developing advanced solutions and tailored customer service. At ACHEMA, we will prove this with new specialty graphite products that are indispensable for our customers’ demanding processes in a wide range of fields, protecting people and the environment in the process.”
SIGRAFLEX®– Specialty Graphite Solutions for Sealing Technology
With its SIGRAFLEX® products, SGL Group is one of the leading manufacturers of flexible graphite foils and reinforced graphite gasket sheets made from expanded natural graphite for applications in the sealing industry. Its high quality flat gasket systems fulfill the highest requirements in the process industry, such as minimal emissions (according to “TA Luft”), sealing with long term stability, high blow-out resistance and fire safety and support plant security as well as cost-effective and efficient processing.
The company will present its entire portfolio of expanded graphite foils and sheets at ACHEMA. The professional community will also see two new sealing technology products. The SIGRAFLEX® APX2 HOCHDRUCK sheet is a multi-layer, high strength reinforced graphite sheet made from high temperature resistant SIGRAFLEX APX2 graphite foils and stainless steel foils, which are brought together in the well-known SIGRAFLEX HOCHDRUCK technology. With the aid of the new sheet, which can be used at operating temperatures from -250°C to +580°C (depending on the flange design and process temperature – please seek our advice for temperatures exceeding 480°C), users in the process industry can seal almost their entire range of applications in the field of flat gaskets reliably and safely. SIGRAFLEX APX2 HOCHDRUCK is specially designed for sealing joints subject to high mechanical load, for example in the chemical and petrochemical industries and in refineries. The sheet can also be used in all common flange constructions, in pipelines and containers.
The second new product is an innovative, flexible foil yarn with Inconel® reinforcement. The graphite yarn for manufacturing braided packing rings for high temperature and high pressure applications in the case of rotary or piston valves is also based on the SIGRAFLEX APX2 foil – the best-performing foil in the industry in terms of oxidation resistance – and is produced without adhesives, binders, substrates or hardeners. With a carbon content of more than 98%, the yarn also exhibits a high degree of purity.
SIGRAFINE®– Specialty Graphite Solutions for Mechanical Applications
Whether in chemistry, energy, mechanical engineering or the automotive industry – mechanical applications require extremely tough and resistant materials, particularly when it comes to high temperatures or corrosive materials. This is precisely where SIGRAFINE® specialty graphite from SGL Group comes into play, with optimal dry-running properties and minimized friction that help to make processes more energy efficient.
To ensure that parts, components and systems are safe, reliable and efficient, tailored solutions are required that provide optimal support for highly varied applications. Thanks to its decades of industry experience and in-depth expertise in application technology, SGL Group is a sought-after partner for materials and components for mechanical applications. The best material from an extensive range of specialty graphite can be selected and used to provide optimum support to customers with innovative, tailored solutions. Experts will be available at the trade fair to answer questions about SIGRAFINE® carbon, carbon graphite and graphite materials and components for mechanical applications such as sealing rings, bearings and sliding elements as well as components for compressors, pumps and vacuum pumps.
SIGRAFINE® all-carbon materials are new to the product portfolio. These are specific materials made from carbon graphite that offer decisive advantages over metal impregnated carbon-based materials, for example significantly better media resistance and higher temperature resistance of up to approximately 400°C. SIGRAFINE all-carbon materials can be used universally, especially in sensitive applications relating to drinking water and food in which no lubricants may be used.
ACHEMA 2015, June 15 to 19 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Visit SGL Group in Hall 8.0 / Stand L81
You can also find equipment and process solutions for highly corrosive applications from SGL Group in Hall 4.0 /Stand F26.