Application of Polyacrylate Rubber for High Performance Automotive Gaskets and Seals

Abstract

Polyacrylate rubber compounds have been used for a number of years for manufacturing oil seals used in current high performance automotive engines. The work reported here was done at the time of the development of these engines, which required new sealing material. Polyacrylate rubber was already known to withstand the use temperature of 150°C with adequate oil resistance. The unknown was the mechanical performance, particularly the endurance at the service condition. A comparative study was undertaken with compounds prepared from polyacrylate and fluoro-rubber. The latter was already known to have adequate performance and, therefore, was the reference material of this study. The strategy was to conduct a minimum amount of work and to achieve the goal in the shortest time. The temperature dependence of modulus up to 200°C, high-speed deformation behavior with subsequent relaxation and endurance at 150°C indicated that polyacrylate rubber would give satisfactory performance.