New Addition to DuPontT Kalrez® Portfolio Offers New Alternatives for Sanitary Seals

DuPont launched its new perfluoroelastomer parts, DuPontT Kalrez® LS390, for use as sanitary seals in food handling, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications where FDA, USP VI at 121°C and Japan Pharmacopeia compliance are required.

Kalrez® LS390 provides longer seal life and tighter sealing which improves productivity and process optimization as well as creating a safer environment in the day-to-day running of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

Sanitary seal applications can often experience problems related to thermal and chemical resistance, compression set (permanent deformation) and high stiction. This can cause intrusion in the production line or dead space which increases the risk of contamination or leakage unless seals are continuously tightened.

Kalrez® LS390 is different. It overcomes these issues with its high hardness properties, low stiction, high temperature resistance (up to 220 °C (428 °F)) and broad chemical resistance (excellent resistance to process chemicals, WFI (water for injection), as well as SIP and/or CIP processes). These properties enable increased MTBR (mean time between repair), facilitate sanitary seal piping disassembly and because of its unique grey colour, Kalrez® LS390 parts are easy to identify for proper material selection and application.

Kalrez® LS390 offers a great performance advantage and makes it the optimal choice for OEMS and Life Science manufacturers.

"Kalrez® LS390 is really the best choice solution for OEMs and life science manufacturers when it comes to sanitary seals" said Lakshmi Krishnamurthy, Kalrez® Vespel® global segment leader for E&MH (Energy and Material Handling). "Kalrez® LS390's great mechanical properties allow our customers to reach higher levels of productivity and efficiency and importantly, creates a safer manufacturing environment, which is so vital in food handling, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications."

DuPont Kalrez® parts last longer and seal more effectively than other elastomers in demanding processing environments. DuPontT Kalrez® perfluoroelastomer parts (FFKM) resist over 1,800 different chemicals, while offering the high temperature stability of PTFE (327°C). The long-term, proven performance of Kalrez® parts can mean less frequent seal changes, repairs and inspections, increasing process and equipment uptime for greater productivity and yield. They are used across a wide array of sectors including Life Sciences, industrial, food and beverage and pharmaceuticals.