Study of Thermo-Oxidative Aging of Fluorinated Gaskets (FKM) Used in Plate Heat Exchangers

Gaskets are sealing elements used in plate heat exchangers, which are subjected to aggressive conditions during service. In particular, the compression state, together alongside temperatures, can cause a premature deterioration of properties. To monitor and prevent such a situation, this study uses the TTS (time-temperature superposition) method and Arrhenius to predict the lifetime of FKM gaskets. For this purpose, thermo-oxidative aging is conducted at different temperatures for up to 6 months, monitoring compression set (CS) and Shore A hardness. The results indicate that the gasket can withstand periods of up to almost 300 days in service for an operating temperature of 140 °C.