Self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal

1. A self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal comprising:

an annular body formed from a flexible carbon composite, wherein the flexible carbon composite includes a carbon microstructure and binding phase including a binder which binds the carbon microstructures, the binder including one or more of SiO 2 ; Si, B, B 2 O 3 , a metal, and an alloy.

2. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible carbon composite includes expanded graphite microstructures.

3. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , further comprising: an interface layer between the binder and the carbon microstructures.

4. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 3 , wherein the interface layer comprises one or more of a chemical bond; or a solid solution.

5. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the metal comprises one or more of aluminum; copper; titanium; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium.

6. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises one or more of an alloy of aluminum; an alloy of copper; an alloy of titanium; an alloy of nickel; an alloy of tungsten; an alloy of chromium; an alloy of iron; an alloy of manganese; an alloy of zirconium; an alloy of hafnium; an alloy of vanadium; an alloy of niobium; an alloy of molybdenum; an alloy of tin; an alloy of bismuth; an alloy of antimony; an alloy of lead, an alloy of cadmium; or an alloy of selenium.

7. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises one or more of copper; nickel; chromium; iron; titanium; an alloy of copper; an alloy of nickel; an alloy of chromium; an alloy of iron; or an alloy of titanium.

8. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , further comprising: a frame, the annular body encapsulating a portion of the frame.

9. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 8 , further comprising: a biasing member arranged adjacent to the frame.

10. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 9 , wherein the annular body encapsulates the biasing member.

11. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , further comprising: at least one biasing member, the annular body extending about at least a portion of the at least one biasing member.

12. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one biasing member includes first and second biasing members encased by the annular body.

13. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the annular body defines one or more of an O-ring seal; a rectangular seal; a V-ring seal; a T-ring seal; or an X-ring seal.

14. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the annular body defines a C-ring seal extending about a coil spring.

15. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the annular body is configured and disposed to seal against a rotating member.

16. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the annular body is configured and disposed to seal against a reciprocating member.

17. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the annular body has a coefficient of friction of about 0.05.

18. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the annular body is configured and disposed to inhibit the passage of fluid.

19. The self-lubricating flexible carbon composite seal according to claim 1 , wherein the binding phase binds the carbon microstructures by mechanical interlocking.