Saint-Gobain Seals, a designer, engineer and manufacturer of critical, engineered seals and polymer material solutions, will be exhibiting at the 36th Space Symposium, sharing their expanded sealing solutions portfolio that now includes both polymer seals and metal seals. Recent acquisitions of American Seal & Engineering and HTMS businesses, specialists in metal sealing technology for a combined 60 years, have strengthened Saint-Gobain Seals’ portfolio and provide access to a complete system of polymer and metal seal solutions that address extreme temperature and pressure challenges often encountered in the space industry.
The expanded portfolio supports their existing space customers as well as emerging global players in the industry, including start-ups, private companies, and public agencies. This selection of seals also complements their portfolio of specialty material solutions: Rulon® PTFE compounds and Meldin® thermoset polyimides that have been beneficial in low orbit space applications such as satellite systems. These low weight polymers are used in satellites most often as “tribological” components in the form of bearings and bushings. One prime example can be found in the solar array deployment system that is folded when the satellite is launched and then opens up as soon as the satellite reaches its targeted orbit. A large number of bushings are needed to ensure the deployment is accomplished with low friction and therefore with low energy as needed. Similar applications can also be found in the deployment of antennas and other moving components in a satellite. The key and beneficial properties that both Rulon® and
Meldin® material grades can provide in satellite applications are low outgassing, long lifetime (10 to 15 years is a typical requirement), electric and thermal insulation and radiation resistance.
