Silazanes have emerged as a powerful coating option for O-rings due to their ability to bond with fluoropolymers to cover substrates in various hardness levels. In this guide, we go over the chemistry behind silazanes and fluoropolymers.
What Are Silazanes?
Silazanes are a class of inorganic compounds that consist of a silicon atom bonded to nitrogen and hydrogen atoms (Si-H bonds). They are versatile compounds with a wide range of applications, including as precursors for ceramics, polymers, and catalysts. Silazanes have unique chemical properties, which make them ideal for coating applications.
When used as a coating, silazanes form a protective layer that enhances the durability, abrasion resistance, and adhesion to the substrate. The chemical structure of silazanes can be tailored to achieve specific properties, making them a versatile tool for material engineering.
What Are Fluoropolymers?
Fluoropolymers are characterized by their carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds. These substances are chemically inert. But they can bond with other substances, like silazanes, using a suitable catalyst. Fluoropolymers can come in many forms, but the one we’re most concerned with is the thin film that goes on O-rings.
Understanding the Chemistry of Silazanes and Fluoropolymers
The key to getting these substances to bond into a silazane fluoropolymer comes from placing them together at the right temperature in the presence of the correct catalysts. The result is a silazane fluoropolymer after the two substances reach chemically, forming a strong, chemically inert bond that can attach to the substrate O-ring. Catalysts are not consumed during the chemical bonding but serve as a bridge to complete the reaction. This complex chemical process is why you need a company with experienced chemical engineers to complete the O-ring coatings.
The benefits of silazane fluoropolymers are numerous. They work at least five times better than PTFE alone. They have enhanced corrosion resistance while lowering the coefficient of friction. They’re also more thermally stable and operate at higher temperatures. You’ll find them in a wide range of applications, such as in the aerospace, automotive, food processing, and chemical processing industries, when you need stable O-ring coatings to make your current processes even more cost-effective.
The overall goal of silazane fluoropolymers is to improve on more traditional O-ring coatings made of PTFE. Silazanes have advantages due to better cohesion to the substrates and performing better than fluoropolymer alone.
O-Ring Surface Treatments by EZ Coating
Our O-ring coatings outperform PTFE in several important factors, such as the coefficient of friction and abrasion resistance, for your industrial equipment.
Contact us for more information or if you need a test sample. We’ll respond within 24 hours and then discuss your requirements.
