Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Other

Kevin Edward Dove

Raymond B Minor

Robert L Sassa

Christopher Bowen

Carl Jones

David J Mills

Ronald G Egres, Jr

Hirokazu Hisano

Steve E Minor

Alexander Riedl

Sonia Cooper

Disclosed is a sealing element and a method of manufacture. The sealing element has a sealing surface for providing a seal against a contact surface. A sintered PTFE film is coupled to the elastomeric body, and defines the sealing surface, which is of particular suitability for a dynamic seal. The sealing film comprises a lubricious particulate material.

Sealing element and method of manufacture of a sealing element

Improved expanded PTFE materials and improved gasket materials made therefrom, the gaskets being capable of forming a seal with greater bolt load retention than is possible with existing PTFE gaskets. The expanded PTFE membranes of the invention can be tailored to exhibit a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 25,000 psi, a matrix tensile strength ratio in two orthogonal directions of between 0.25 and 4, an orientation index of 50&#xb0; or less, and a density of 2.0 g/cc or less. The improved gaskets exhibit improved mechanical properties such as high bolt load retention, low creep, high tensile strength, low stress to seal and high crystallinity index.

PTFE membranes and gaskets made therefrom

A low stress to seal, unitary gasket tape is provided that is particularly suited for use in form-in-place gaskets. The gasket tape preferably comprises at least two joined porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tapes aligned along tape side surfaces and a substantially air impermeable layer there between. The plane of expansion of the ePTFE is substantially parallel to the flange surface providing longitudinal and transverse strength. The substantially air impermeable layer prevents fluid from permeating through the gasket in the radial direction.

Low stress to seal expanded PTFE gasket tape

A low stress-to-seal gasket material is described. Gaskets made according to the present invention comprise at least two tapes of porous PTFE and a substantially air impermeable layer at the interface of the two tape layers. The tape layers each have a non-porous region extending the tape length and separating two porous regions. The non-porous regions of at least two tape layers are not aligned in the z-axis direction.

Low stress to seal ePTFE gasket material

A multilayer, unitary gasket including at least one inner layer of expanded PTFE disposed between a first substantially air impermeable outer layer and a second substantially air impermeable outer layer, and a substantially air impermeable region bridging the first and second substantially air impermeable layers. The inventive gasket forms a substantially air impermeable seal when compressed at low stress.

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Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Kevin Edward Dove