1. Experimental Considerations in the Measurement of Thermal Relaxation and Recovery of Strained Seals Kurt Miller Axel Products, Inc. www.axelproducts.com

2. Available at: www.axelproducts.com.

3. Overview Elastomer Seals Stress, Strain and Temperature A Particular Experiment

4. Elastomer Seals Normally Compressed Fill a Space Provide a Reaction Force Survive Temperature Changes Survive Chemical Attack

5. Stress, Strain and Temperature Mental Experiment Actual Experiment

6. Stress, Strain and Temperature

7. Short Term Stress Relaxation Some Softening

8. Stress, Strain and Temperature

9. Thermal Expansion Elastomer > Steel Thermal Softening Thermal Degradation Additional Crosslinking

10. Stress, Strain and Temperature Thermal Expansion vs Thermal Softening

11. Stress, Strain and Temperature NOT Long Term Stress Relaxation

12. Stress, Strain and Temperature

13. Thermal Contraction Reduced Reaction Force

14. Stress, Strain and Temperature

15. Additional Thermal Contraction Reduced or Possible Loss of Reaction Force The Seal May go into Tension!

16. A Particular Experiment

18. Example Data, Constrained Seal

19. A Particular Experiment Example Data, Constrained Seal

20. A Particular Experiment This does not replace aging experiments.

21. A Particular Experiment This does not replace aging experiments.

22. A Particular Experiment This does not replace: –Thermal Expansion by TMA –Compression Set

23. Overview Bad Things Happen When Hot, Become Evident When Cold Experimental data is Helpful