Performance plastics are playing a key role in the energy boom, making it easier to reach previously untapped sources of oil and gas to fuel the economy.
Applications
- Piston, chevron and gland seals
- Anti-extrusion rings and back-up rings
- Valve seats
- Packings
- Bushings, bearings
- Lantern rings
- Frac balls
- Labyrinth seals
- Down-hole electical insulators
- Gaskets
- Lifting systems components (sheaves, rollers, guides)
- Shrouds
- Sight glasses
- Pipe and pipe support systems (saddles, carrier rings) grating/stairs
Advantages May Include
- Reduced weight and lower cost than traditional materials (specialy metals)
- Better sealing performance
- Greater design flexibility (most engineering plastics are readily modified for specific applications)
- Handles harsh enviornments (from downhole heat to Arctic conditions to subsea systems)
- Corrosion resistant
- Improved efficiencies (better sealing properties, lower coefficient of friction)
- Easier to machine, ship and install
- Reduce/eliminate lubrication dependency
- Excellent electrical insulation properties
- Static dissipative and conductive grades available
- Less wear on mating parts
Materials
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
- Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)
- Nylon (PA)
- Other Fluoropolymer Compounds
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
- Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
- PolyAmide-Imide (PAI)
- Polyimide (PI)
- Thermoset Composites (Phenolics)
