CONNECTORS AND SEALING SOLUTIONS
Freudenberg Flow Technologies leverages the more than 80 years of sealing and material innovation of The Freudenberg Group. With focused innovation through our 14,000-sqft Material Development & Product Test Facility located in Houston, Texas, Freudenberg Flow Technologies works to develop and certify new materials to meet the greater sealing demands for upstream applications.
The materials development and product testing facility have International Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for testing and calibration laboratories.
Our material development and testing capabilities include:
Our capabilities include a mixing lab to cultivate new material recipes. Freudenberg Flow Technologies’ elastomer research group is focused on developing new formulations targeted for solving the most stringent challenges encountered by materials used in the oil and gas industry, from extreme temperature and pressure conditions to exposure to harsh drilling and completion fluids.
The mixing lab has all the necessary equipment for compounding new material recipes for seals, BOPs, packers and other non-metallic based oilfield parts. Freudenberg Flow Technologies developed a full range of elastomers, from commercial NBR, HNBR, NR, and EPDM base polymers to high-performance FKM grades and FFKM Grades, including GAZGUARD® - our trademarked RGD-resistant compounds.
Purpose
Develop new elastomer material recipes
Product Example
O-Rings, Spring Seals & T-Seals
Equipment
3L Mixer / 2 Roll Mill / Heaters for the mill and mixer / Hydraulic press / Rubber cutter / Oven / Rheometer / DSC
The Material Properties Test Lab performs physical testing for O-Rings, Spring Seals and T-Seals, among other solutions. This facility is equipped to conduct a wide variety of tests on the mechanical properties of Elastomers and Plastics – Tensile Testing, Flexural Strength and Modulus, Compression Stress Relaxation Testing as well as conduct immersion testing with combustible and flammable fluids.
Equipment
Tensile Tester / Manual clicker press / Densimeter / Microscope / Hardness tester Shore A, D and IRHD / Heating oven / Compression stress relaxation fixtures
Types of Tests Performed
ISO 48 / ISO 37 / ISO 527 / ISO 34-1 / ISO 1817 / ISO 11357-1+2 / ISO 188 / ISO 815 / ISO 1183 / ASTM D 429 / ASTM D 412 / ASTM D 638 / ASTM D 395 / ASTM D 790 / ASTM D 2240 / ASTM 3767 / ASTM D 2000
Example Tests Performed
Our Thermal Test Lab is dedicated to product function testing for a variety of sealing solutions such as Spring Seals, T-Seals and FS Seals. This facility utilizes an environmental chamber, a gas booster and an accumulator vessel.
Equipment
Typical Tests Performed
Temperature Range
Pressure Range
Gases / Fluids
Our HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) Test Lab uses Rapid Gas Decompression (RGD) Testing to assess material and function of products such as O-Rings, Spring Seals and T-Seals. The lab includes insulated, self-contained test vessels with band heaters between vessel and insulation.
Equipment
Insulated self-contained test vessels, with band heaters between vessel and insulation
Typical Tests Performed
Norsok M-710 RGD / ISO 23936 / NACE TM 0187 / Shell DODEP / Total GS-PVV-142 / Customer-specified tests
Temperature Range
Room temperature, to 430°F (220°C)
Pressure Range
Gases / Fluids
Our Product Test Area is designed to perform function testing for products such as BOPs and ram packers. The facility is capable of running API 16A testing, as well as customer-specific tests. Typical tests cover water, control fluids, drilling muds and glycol.
Typical Tests Performed
Pressure Range
Gases / Fluids
Our Sour Gas Lab tests a broad spectrum of gases and fluids, as well as customer-specific combinations as requested. Material and function tests include atmospheric pressure to 2,000 psi and immersion testing to 15,000 psi, as well as Norsok M-710 sour gas testing.
Equipment
Pressure Range
Gases / Fluids