Product category:
Honing, lapping and burnishing
News Release from: Engis (UK) | Subject: White lapping solutions
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 December 2005
Lapping solution solves ceramic oxide
problem
White lapping solutions, which use suspensions of diamond particles as small as 0.25microns, have solved the problem of maintaining a pristine white appearance when lapping oxide ceramic seals.
Mirja Advanced Ceramics specialises in the manufacture of ceramic seals in thicknesses ranging from 3mm to 28mm, for a range of industries in applications that demand resistance to acids, high pressures and high temperatures, often in combination The pump seals, which are used in place of gland packing, must be lapped to a flatness of 2 light bands in order to function correctly, so extremely finely graded lapping slurries as available from Engis, are a pre-requisite
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 8 Jan 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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One of the difficulties faced when lapping oxide ceramic seals is to maintain their pristine white appearance.
Having very fine pores, the ceramic substrate can become impregnated by diamond particles in the grey/black water-soluble oil lapping medium, leading to an unacceptable 'dirty' appearance.
Even ultrasonic cleaning will not remove these particles from the ceramic as their microstructure is very fine, leaving heat treatment as the only remaining cleansing option, which destroys the flatness of the seals.
The solution to this problem is the use of Engis white lapping solutions, which use suspensions of diamond particles as small as 0.25microns.
Using these solutions white seals remain brilliantly white throughout the manufacturing process.
In fact, Mirja also uses the Engis white lapping solutions on black ceramic seals to produce a mirror-like finish.
Mirja, which is based in Johannesburg, has been a customer of Engis for many years, being supported by Engis distributor, A T Technical Services, whose managing director, Allan Barry-Taylor, has extensive technical expertise in lapping applications.
Mirja is able to custom design and manufacture mechanical seals up to a maximum diameter of 175mm.
Larger seals and other product lines are obtained from its partner companies.
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