A system of automated control of thermal vacuum impregnation and swelling of sealing elastomers

Abstract

When determining the swelling of polymeric materials in aggressive environments by standard test methods, significant measurement errors occur which entails the necessity of improving laboratory methods and diagnostic tools to solve research problems by automation of existing testing processes and minimization or complete elimination of the subjective components of measurement errors. We present an automated control system (ACS) for the process of swelling of sealing elastomers used in the construction of containers, tanks and units for storage, transportation, operation and pumping of liquids of various origins and properties. Methods of hardware and algorithmic implementation of the developed automated system for studying and testing impregnation and swelling of sealing polymers are shown on the example of filling MBS elastomer samples with a standard working fluid. The results obtained can be used to reduce the time of impregnation and swelling of sealing elastomers due to the proposed filling method and the developed integrated automatic control system for the filling process.