Fluid-infused elastomers
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to fluid-infused elastomers that outperform their non-infused base elastomer in harsh environmental conditions. These fluid-infused polymers may be used in applications including geothermal technologies where the oil-infused elastomers may be subject to harsh conditions.
1. A material, consisting essentially of:
an elastomer infused with an amount of a fluid;
wherein the amount of the fluid is greater than 0% and less than or equal to 50% by volume of the material;
wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon, hydrocarbon, fluorosilicone and silicone-based elastomers; and
wherein the fluid is a halocarbon selected from a group consisting of fluorocarbon, chlorocarbon and bromocarbon-based oils; and
wherein the fluid is chemically inert with the elastomer; and
wherein the material has a thickness, and wherein the fluid is infused to a depth greater than the surface up to and including to a depth of 10 percent the thickness of the material.
2. The material of claim 1 , wherein the halocarbon fluid is a fluorocarbon-based fluid.
3. The material of claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon-based fluid is a perfluoropolyether.
4. The material of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is a fluorocarbon-based elastomer and the fluid is a fluorocarbon-based oil.
5. The material of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the fluid is greater than 5% and less than or equal to 30% by volume of the material.
6. The material of claim 1 , wherein the material is an O-ring or gasket.
7. A method of forming a material, comprising:
subjecting the material having a surface and a thickness and consisting essentially of an elastomer to a temperature and a pressure while submerged in a halocarbon fluid to infuse an amount of the halocarbon fluid into the material to a depth greater than the surface;
wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon, hydrocarbon, fluorosilicone and silicone-based elastomers; and
wherein the halocarbon fluid is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon, chlorocarbon and bromocarbon-based oils; and
wherein the halocarbon fluid is chemically inert with the elastomer; and
wherein the material has a thickness, and wherein the fluid is infused to a depth greater than the surface up to and including to a depth of 10 percent the thickness of the material.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the temperature is between 100° C. and 350° C.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the material has a thickness, and wherein the fluid is infused to a depth greater than the surface up to and including to a depth of 50 percent the thickness of the material.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fluid is infused to an amount greater than 5% and less than or equal to 30% by volume of the material.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the halocarbon fluid is a fluorocarbon-based fluid.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fluid is a fluorocarbon-based fluid and the fluorocarbon-based fluid is a perfluoropolyether.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elastomer is a fluorocarbon-based elastomer and the fluid is a fluorocarbon-based oil.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the infusion takes place in an infusion reactor.