New Custom Formulated Base Resistant Elastomers Fill Gap Between FKM-2 and FEPM-1

Press Release Summary:

  • Bonding grade and packer grade compounds offer low temperature properties and low compression than 100H Aflas®
  • Includes bonded seals requiring good bond strength in extreme environments
  • Ideal for applications such as downhole safety valves and flapper valve seats

Original Press Release:

CDI Energy Products Qualifies New Base Resistant Elastomers

December 8, 2020 (Houston, Texas) – CDI Energy Products, a global leader in high-performance polymer products, announced today that it has qualified new elastomeric materials suitable for robust multi-industry applications. With its focus on continuous innovation, CDI has launched its new custom formulated Base Resistant Elastomers (BREs). BREs were initially created to serve the energy market for critical downhole applications. The BRE material development process was driven in collaboration with a long-term CDI energy market partner. Through our product development programs, this initial customer specific opportunity evolved into a set of non-proprietary materials available to all customers.

BREs have steam and base resistance similar to tetrafluoroethylene propylene (TFE/P or FEPMs such as 100H Aflas®). Through a coordinated development effort with a global customer, the CDI Materials Development Team in Texas formulated and produced two grades of the BRE, Bonding Grade and Packer Grade (903BG and 903PG). These compounds offer better low temperature properties and lower compression set than 100H Aflas® (FEPM) and fill a gap between an FKM-2 and FEPM-1 (100H Aflas®) at a competitive price point.

To meet the ever-evolving demands of its global partners, CDI experts stay abreast of the very latest advancements and have in-depth experience with over 750 custom materials. The material scientists develop solutions using existing proprietary formulations and can design custom blends tailored to specific applications.

“OEMs continue to push the boundaries of performance with superior valves, pumps, compressors and other critical service equipment. Application-focused materials R&D is a critical element of the success we share with our customers, across markets that include oil and gas, fluid management, power generation, aerospace, gas compression, and many other segments” says Dr. Tim Bremner, Materials Technology Director. Dr. Bremner goes on to say “establishing application specific formulations require a comprehensive development process, including material testing, suitability for manufacturing, and prototyping or field testing under conditions as close as possible to the real-world environment. Our customers cannot compromise on quality or safety, and therefore our materials must meet the highest standards before deployment in the field.”

The recommended applications for BREs include bonded seals requiring excellent bond strength in extreme environments, (+400°F steam for example), and in S-seals, T-Seals, or V-rings, requiring high modulus BRE where elongation over a typical value of 80% is not necessary. CDI’s Singapore facility has successfully qualified manufacturing processes to produce components using BREs in critical applications such as downhole safety valves, and BREs are also the material of choice for flapper valve seats. CDI’s Houston team is continuing with development projects with their energy partner for BRE use in United States based applications. CDI sees significant potential for BREs on a wide variety of global industry applications. With excellent bonding strength and resilience in challenging environments, BREs can be the upgrade solution for problematic applications in many critical operations.

“Following the same development process that gave us success with BREs, CDI is pursuing application specific material development for use in several new environments. In early 2021, we expect to launch high-performance polymer components to serve the hydraulic fracturing industry, and the semiconductor, aerospace and defense markets,” says Brian Bertelsen, VP Sales and Marketing.

About CDI Energy Products CDI Energy Products is a Michelin Group Company headquartered in Humble, Texas with locations serving North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. We are a global leader in high-performance polymer products to the energy industry and beyond. Our in-house engineering, material development, and manufacturing capabilities offer us full vertical integration in one location from raw materials to finished products. Our products are engineered by a highly trained staff of engineers working side by side with our Material Science team. Our engineered materials are developed and tested onsite. We service the oil and gas, liquid natural gas (LNG), cryogenics, wind and renewable energy, water management, fluid handling, automotive, aerospace and defense, medical and biomedical, refining and petrochemical, industrial processing, power generation, and semiconductor markets.

For more information about CDI Energy Products, visit www.CDIproducts.com.

Media Contact:
Kari Schoeffler
Kari.Schoeffler@CDIproducts.com
8103 Rankin Rd
Humble, TX 77396

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