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Rulon® is a specially compounded form of TFE fluorocarbon and other inert
ingredients.
Rulon® A was introduced to industry in 1952 as a plastic bearing material with low coefficient of
friction and an excellent abrasion resistance to corrosion. It immediately found a great number
of applications as a bearing material because it required no lubrication and was capable of performing
under severe temperature (-400° to +550°F.) and corrosive conditions.
Rulon® A has a
1,000-fold increase in wear resistance over TFE, lower deformation under load, greater stiffness and higher
compressive strength.
Today Rulon® is widely used for electrical, mechanical and chemical applications in industry.
Since the advent of Rulon® A, a number of other formulations have been developed for special uses
such as Rulon® 123, 125, 142, 488, 641, 998, 999, DC1042, DC7035, AR, B, E, F, H, J, K, LR, W2, XL and II.
Rulon® Material Selection Guide
Rulon® is available in numerous standard forms such as extruded rod, tubing, skived tape, molded rods
and tubes, sheets and shapes molded to specifications. Rulon® is readily machinable in a manner similar
to TFE and may be surface treated for bonding.
With the high cost of fluorocarbons, reducing the amount of material needed substantially
reduces the cost of parts. For example, the use of Rulon® tape, wherever possible, provides low cost
parts with all the advantages of a filled TFE fluorocarbon - better wear resistance, reduced
deformation under load, and lower expansion characteristics.
Parts are made by stamping or post forming to the desired shape. Rulon's plastic memory is useful
in insuring that a formed part provides a tight seal in service. Stamped washers can be formed into low
cost lip seals with a memory, often making it possible to eliminate associated hardware. Pump cups so made
of Rulon® can operate from -400° to +550°F. dry or in almost any fluid without swelling.
Rotary rod-end seals can be formed by drawing out the I.D. of the washer over the rod to make a hat-shaped
seal. Inexpensive Rulon® valve stem packing can be formed the same way.
Low cost bearings such as the T-Liner bearings pictured below are made of 0.015 to 0.030 inch tape, and are
snapped into metal retainers, offering the same surface performance as massive pieces but with
improved heat transfer, lower deformation and easy replacement. These bearings run unlubricated
continuously at 20,000 PV* and intermittently at 50,000 PV. Tape bearings an be retained without their
own holders by designing undercuts in the housing or shaft shoulders.
Slit Rulon® tape can be cut and wrapped around a piston ring groove to provide
oil less
cylinder operation. Such rings are low in cost, quiet and unaffected by most fluids.
Rulon® can be treated so that it is bondable (using epoxy adhesives) to most substrates
such as wood or metal. This provides low-friction wear surfaces, half bearings and siding
surfaces with the strength of the substrate. Tape can be bonded to rubber for seals and
packing
that combine the elasticity of rubber and the surface characteristics of Rulon®.
Rulon® tape is used as an abrasion barrier on high-temperature insulated wire.
Using Rulon® in thin sections allows for a variety of applications such as formed
cups or seals, torque-control bushings, and clutch face plates.
Where to use Rulon®:
Low cost, high performance dry bearings for continuous service to 20,000 PV or intermittent service
to 50,000 PV.
Low temperatures to -400°F., where oils are useless.
High temperatures to 550°F.
Corrosive substances, non lubricating fluids, high or low humidity.
Lubricated applications where wear may occur during starting and stopping.
Oscillating bearings or any case where stick-slip is undesirable.
Space and weight-saving applications.
Where bearing lubrication is undesirable or impossible.
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Rulon® T-Liner bearings consist of a steel shell with retaining lips.
Inserted is a removable Rulon® tape liner. The Rulon® liner is retained in a manner
to allow it to expand and contract circumferentially, so that it is free to adjust without
changing the I.D. of the bearing. Rulon® inserts are also stocked for use where the outer shell is not required.
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Standard Stock Sizes for Rulon Bearings .pdf |
TYPICAL FABRICATED PARTS IN RULON®
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Bushings are machined to give wear-resistant bearing
surfaces. They can be press fit, stacked, flanged, hot cast, etc. PV values up to 20,000
are obtainable without lubrication. |
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Screw machine parts of Rulon® for cams, bushings,
rollers, etc. can be machined to close tolerances.
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Bearings are produced economically by inserting slit and cut sections of tape. |
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O-Rings are available in Rulon® in all standard sizes. Rulon® has low breakaway
friction, is not attacked by chemicals and oils, and operates lubrication-free.
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Thrust washers in either molded shapes
or in low cost washers stamped from Rulon® tape or sheet, act without lubrication
at high loads and speeds. They are not affected by chemicals or corrosive conditions. |
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Gaskets and Packing can be molded, machined or stamped
in Rulon® for flats, rings, U-Cups, V-Rings, chevrons, etc. Rulon® shows less deformation
under load than pure TFE.
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Bonded Rulon® Tape adhered with epoxy adhesive can withstand
tensile shear strengths as high as 1,000 psi. Bonding tape to metal or wooden substrates,
etc. provides low-friction wear surfaces for parts such as roll support half bearings, sleeve bearings, feeder
chutes and sliding conveyors. |
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Piston Rings of Rulon® provide increased service life and low maintenance in non-lubricated compressors
and chemical process compressors. Rulon® offers maintenance and replacement savings in almost all applications where reduced wear,
heat resistance, chemical inertness and toughness are required.
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Pump Cups and Seals formed from tape have a plastic
memory which ensures tight sealing. |
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FORMULATION
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COLOR
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USES
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AR
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Maroon
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Best combination of flexibility and load carrying properties. Recommended for seal applications. Good general insulative and chemical properties
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J
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Dull Gold
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Lowest coefficient of friction of any reinforced PTFE. Can run on both non-ferrous and non-metallic mating surfaces like 316 stainless steel and brass.
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LR
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Maroon
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Standard bearing material used in sleeve, flange, thrust and T-Liner bearings.
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PROPERTIES OF RULON® AR
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Coefficient of Thermal Expansion in/in/DegreeF X 10E-5
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7.8
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Deformation Under Load %
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5 @ 1500 PSI
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Elongation Percentage
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175
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Flammability UL 94
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Non-Flammable
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Hardness Durometer Shore "D" Scale
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D-60-75
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Izod Impact ft lb/in
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6
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Specific Gravity
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2.24
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Tensile Strength Psi
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2000
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Water Absorption Immersion 24 Hours %
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0
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PROPERTIES OF RULON® J
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Deformation Under Load %
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3.0@1500 PSI
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Dielectric Strength Short Time Volts/mil
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200
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Elongation Percentage
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180
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Flammability UL 94
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Non-Flammable
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Hardness Durometer Shore "D" Scale
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D-60
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Specific Gravity
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1.95
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Tensile Strength Psi
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2000
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Volume Resistivity ohm-cm
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8.2 x 10E18
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Water Absorption Immersion 24 Hours %
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0
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PROPERTIES OF RULON® LR
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Coefficient of Friction Dry vs. Steel
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0.15-0.25
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Coefficient of Thermal Expansion in/in/DegreeF X 10E-5
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8.2
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Continuous Service Temperature in Air °F
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550
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Deformation Under Load %
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3.0 @ 1500 PSI
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Dielectric Constant 60 HZ
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2.5
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Dielectric Strength Short Time Volts/mil
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400-500
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Elongation Percentage
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150
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Flammability UL 94
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Non-Flammable
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Hardness Durometer Shore "D" Scale
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D-60-75
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Izod Impact ft lb/in
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6
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Specific Gravity
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2.27
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Tensile Strength Psi
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1500
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Volume Resistivity ohm-cm
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1.0 x 10E15
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Water Absorption Immersion 24 Hours %
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0
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Water Absorption Immersion Saturation %
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0
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