Problems of Operation of Elastomer Materials in the Arctic Region

Abstract

The operability of frost-resistant industrial sealing rubbers on the basis of full-scale exposure of rubber samples in the environment of oil in cold climate has been investigated. It is found that interaction of rubbers with oil media (fuel, lubricants) causes diffusion of a plasticizer from the elastomer material into the contacting medium and decrease of frost resistance coefficient. Choosing the material for production of different seals for the conditions of the North one must use rubbers with significant temperature range of operation, for example propylen-oxide elastomer, which is highly frost resistant and has a stable set of operational properties.