MouldTex

Research and Development of Microstructured Surface Sliding Seals

The project develops and demonstrates a new method for designing and mass-producing polymer seals with surface texture. These textured seals reduce friction in sliding seals by 20%, thereby increasing the seals' lifespan.

Objective

Polymeric seals are essential components in almost every industrial and mechanical process enabling the effective containment and movement of liquids and gases under extremes of environment. Friction is intrinsically related to seal performance. High friction accelerates wear of the seal leading to leakage and/or premature failure, and increases the energy consumption of industrial processes.

Surface (micro-) texturing is a proven technique for reducing friction across lubricated rigid materials such as metal and ceramic materials. Within recent years this technique has been applied and demonstrated for polymeric and elastomeric materials at laboratory level.

The project will develop and demonstrate a novel methodology for the design and high volume manufacture of surface textured polymeric components tailored to the (friction) environment within which the component operates, achieving a friction reduction of >20% at a cost premium of <10%.

The novel methodology combines:

  • Advanced modelling software for the identification of surface texture patterns that lead to significant friction reduction for target rubber and plastic seals and applications
  • Software for the design of mould tools that enable the reliable transfer of texture patterns onto the seal surface
  • Novel automated laser system for the application of hierarchical laser induced micro- texture patterns to the mould tool surface
  • Best practice for moulding and de-moulding using surface textured moulds
  • Inline optical inspection for surface texture pattern quality control

Project Information

Grant Agreement: N° 768705 Horizon 2020

Funding Scheme

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 768705

Fields of Science

  • Engineering and Technology
  • Materials Engineering
  • Optical Engineering
  • Laser Engineering

Academic Partners

SMEs

http://mouldtex-project.eu

FORTH logo FUNDITECH logo IDS logo ITAINNOVA logo MLENGRAVING logo ORPSTAMPI logo POLYMERIS logo SKM logo

Publications

Development and validation of a surface profiling system for end of line monitoring of microstructured elastomer seals based on chromatic confocal microscopy
Lóránt Tibor Csőke, Szabolcs Kautny, László Domján, Gábor Szarvas, László Lugosi, Attila Csákányi, Zsolt Kollár
Journal: Precision Engineering, Volume: 77, Pages: 365-374, Year: 2022


Videos