Garlock
An expansion-joint material designed for abrasion protection
Abra-Shield (photo) is a proprietary expansion-joint liner material designed for abrasion resistance and sustainability in demanding high-temperature operating conditions. As the newest addition to this company’s family of abrasion-resistant expansion-joint materials, Abra-Shield joins Abra-Line and Natural Rubber to provide a variety of liners that cater to increased abrasion protection. Abra-Shield will be an option for use with a number of expansion-joint products that the company offers, including styles 204, 206, 7250, 8400 and 9394. These uniquely constructed joints also provide high levels of protection from stress, misalignment, vibration, noise, shock and corrosion. The specially formulated hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber used in Abra-Shield is said to perform significantly better than common abrasion-resistant solutions, with an operating temperature range up to 300°F. In abrasion resistance testing — which provides data to compare materials and predict the lifetime of a material or coating — Abra-Shield provided 50% higher abrasion resistance than standard EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber), according to the company. Abra-Shield will be the recommended solution in abrasive applications (such as slurry, ash and brine) with sustained or spiked temperatures between 180 and 300°F. Hall 3, Stand D13 — Garlock GmbH, Neuss, Germany