Fiber-Reinforced Resin Seal Material for Leak-Free Analyzer Flow Cells
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal materials for analyzers, such as those used in liquid chromatographs and supercritical fluid chromatographs, face challenges with rigidity, durability, and chemical resistance, leading to fluid leakage and contamination issues under high pressure and chemical exposure.
Innovation Solution
A seal material comprising a resin embedded with a fiber sheet, where the fiber sheet is embedded between two resin surfaces in a parallel orientation, providing high rigidity and resistance to deformation and corrosion, while maintaining low solubility and preventing fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal seal material is used, then sealing force and rigidity are improved, but corrosion and metal component contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a resin base material and an embedded fiber sheet (metal, inorganic, or organic). This composite design provides high rigidity and sealing force through the fiber reinforcement while the resin matrix protects against corrosion and prevents metal component contamination, resolving the contradiction between strength and harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The resin base material acts as an intermediary between the fiber sheet and the fluid environment. It provides the necessary sealing force while protecting the fiber sheet from direct fluid contact, thereby preventing corrosion and contamination issues that would occur with direct metal exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a resin seal material is used, then chemical resistance is improved, but rigidity and sealing force are insufficient under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines resin base material (providing chemical resistance) with an embedded fiber sheet (providing rigidity and sealing force). The fiber sheet reinforces the resin structure, enabling it to withstand high pressure applications while maintaining chemical resistance to the fluid environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber sheet is strategically embedded within the resin base material to provide localized reinforcement in areas requiring high sealing force, while the surrounding resin material maintains chemical resistance. This local quality enhancement allows the seal material to perform both functions effectively.
3Strength
If a thick resin seal material is used, then rigidity is improved, but device complexity and limitation in small precision instruments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded fiber sheet provides high rigidity and structural strength, allowing the seal material to be made thinner than conventional thick resin seals. This reduces device complexity and enables use in small precision instruments while maintaining the necessary rigidity for high-pressure sealing.
4Force
If rubber is used for braking action, then friction is improved, but rigidity decreases leading to deformation and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber sheet embedded in the resin base material provides the necessary rigidity to prevent deformation and damage, while the resin material can still provide friction-based braking action. The composite structure maintains dimensional stability under high pressure while retaining the friction properties needed for braking functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a seal material having high rigidity without deformation or breakage, excellent corrosion resistance to fluid, and low solubility when used under high sealing force, and to provide a flow cell, a detector, and an analyzer in which there is no fluid leakage, contamination of the seal material components is prevented, and the replacement frequency is low. Provided are a seal material for an analyzer, including a resin and at least one layer of fiber sheet embedded in the resin, wherein the at least one layer of fiber sheet is embedded between and in substantially parallel to two seal surfaces: a first seal surface, which is one resin surface of the seal material; and a second seal surface, which is the other resin surface substantially parallel to the former one, and a flow cell, a detector, and an analyzer using the seal material.