Parker Hannifin has introduced its new nobrox compound, which exhibits excellent wear resistance, chemical resistance and resilience, reliability, ease of assembly and economy. The new material is particularly well suited for use as a sealing element, guiding element and anti-extrusion element for hydraulic as well as many other sealing technology applications. With its potential as a “material all-rounder” and thanks to the extensive design freedom it offers, the material allows completely new avenues to be pursued in sealing technology while being equally well suited for engineered components in diverse industrial and consumer goods.

Component reliability, long service life and economy are high on the wish list of users for obvious reasons. nobrox enables robust sealing solutions and engineered components for hydraulic applications that uniquely meet these wishes while making less exacting demands on the surrounding components than solutions using other materials.

nobrox marks a major step forward not only in terms of sealing technology and materials engineering but also with respect to environmental friendliness, as the production of the polyketone requires carbon monoxide (CO). In the manufacturing process of PK, this highly toxic and environmentally harmful industrial waste gas is permanently transformed as a major component of the polymer chain, which prevents its emission to the environment. In addition, the enhanced operational liability and longer service life of seals and engineered components resulting from the material’s high wear resistance are favorably reflected in the material’s overall environmental performance.

For engineered components, a comparison with polyamides would seem natural, albeit with two major differences. The water absorption of nobrox is significantly lower and its ultimate elongation clearly higher. Consequently, nobrox components have greater dimensional stability, as there are no variations in moisture absorption that might result in variances. Additionally, they are more resistant to heavy or sudden loads. Compared with PEEK plastics, which are very resistant as well, nobrox is clearly more elastic. Less costly than PEEK, nobrox might be referred to as “PEEK light.” As such, nobrox offers similarly outstanding benefits as PEEK, a material that has been equally known for high performance and relatively high cost.

Piston and rod seals for hydraulics, high-pressure rotary seals featuring time-tested designs, as well as innovative sealing solutions with extended functionalities, are typical applications for nobrox. Outside typical sealing applications, nobrox is suitable for versatile uses as well. Due to its outstanding properties the material is very well suited for use in engineered components for all kinds of industrial and consumer goods. Based on its outstanding permeation properties, fuel tanks for passenger cars are conceivable, for example, and diaphragms for fuel systems or pressure sensors. In addition, nobrox has approvals for contact with food.

Customer-Specific Modification and Economy Compounds of the new nobrox family of materials can be precisely adapted to the relevant customer requirements such as friction, pressure and temperature conditions, as well as media resistance. The seals and engineered components are subsequently produced in a very cost-efficient manufacturing process which is reflected in a favorable cost-benefit ratio for the customer as well. Additional cost benefits for the user result from the long service life, as well as robust and easy assembly of seals and engineered components made of nobrox.

Parker Hannifin
www.parker.com