Freudenberg-NOK to release report on impacts of biodiesel on engine seals

In Michigan, as agricultural and construction manufacturers increasingly accommodate the use of biodiesel fuels in their vehicles, components used to seal engines and transmissions against contamination and leaks must be made of tested, validated elastomeric materials that withstand unique operating conditions or they will prematurely fail.

That’s the message Joseph Walker, global director, Advanced Materials Development for Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, will share with industry leaders attending his presentation at the SAE 2014 Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress (COMVEC) in Rosemont, Ill., Oct. 7.  Walker’s presentation – and its disconcerting assessment – is based upon an extensive research study by Freudenberg-NOK to study how biodiesel engine oil dilutions impact common sealing elastomers. The study was launched in response to published accounts highlighting concerns associated with diluted oil in heavy machinery.

We realized that if we understood how these biodiesel fuel oil mixtures impacted elastomeric materials on a molecular level, we could determine which ones would perform best and longest for our customers and require the fewest seal replacements.  And the dilution of the engine oil with biodiesel fuel does have pronounced effects on both lubricant and seal life.”

“The issue is particularly important in the construction industry where heavy machinery is being constantly leased and operated for long periods between maintenance cycles,” noted Joel Johnson, senior segment director, Mobile Machinery, Freudenberg-NOK. “By offering our customers elastomeric seals that have been specifically engineered and validated to operate flawlessly in a biodiesel fuel environment, they can be assured that their machinery will experience fewer mechanical failures and downtime due to seal issues.”

Walker’s presentation will focus on the results of the company’s study that tested the effects of biodiesel fuel oil diluted mixtures on 15 common sealing materials including silicones, polyacrylate polymers, acrylonitrile materials, fluorocarbon rubbers (FKM) and others.  A performance baseline was established and the materials were then immersed in biodiesel fuel-oil blends and tested for retention of specific seal properties as well as dimensional stability.