Food & Beverage Industry Sealing Solutions
Elastomers are resistant to chemicals and temperature fluctuations, which helps protect equipment from corrosion and degradation, especially in the food & beverage industry.
These sealing solutions are generally used in pumps, valves, mixers and grinders. These components are designed to maintain high hygiene and safety standards that comply with relevant best practices for various industrial applications, including the food and beverage industry.
Choosing the right elastomer materials is pivotal in ensuring safety and non-toxicity and delivering quality food products to consumers.
The Critical Role of Sealing in Food & Beverage Production
These materials are highly suitable for the food industry, being easy to clean and sanitize, which minimizes the risk of bacteria, mold, or other microorganisms.
They also resist high-temperature cooking, pasteurization, freezing or sterilization processes. ISMAT chooses premium elastomer materials, ensuring the food quality remains unaltered while preventing reactions with ingredients such as oils, fats, or sugar.
Food Safety demands strict adherence to global industrial standards, serving as a benchmark for material compliance.
- FDA 21 CFR 177 (U.S. Food Contact Substance Regulations)
- European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004
- NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) standards
The Science of Elastomer Selection
Food-grade certifications are essential; they ensure that food processing and packaging are sterilized and protected. These safety measures prominently reduce the risk of food contamination caused by leaching.
Apart from safety measures, the food industry should deliver high-quality products, i.e., hygienic products, to consumers. ISMAT meticulously works on both industrial standards such as safety and hygiene and chooses quality elastomer materials that possess chemical-resistance to detergents, cleaning agents, acids and solvents
Physical Properties for Effective Sealing:
High-temperature resistance sealing properties of rubber seals and gaskets, are essential for ensuring leakage-proof, a crucial factor in safeguarding food and beverage products. The elasticity element in elastomer material retains the ability to stretch and maintain its original shape, which helps the rubber seal and gasket function in dynamic conditions.
Environmental Factors:
The food processing environment is highly susceptible to absorb water, steam, or moisture which causes swelling, and degradation. Elastomer materials should be resistant to UV and Ozone radiation, which prevents the materials from degradation, cracks and seal failures.
Types of Elastomers Used in the Food & Beverage Industry
Here are the various Elastomers that are widely used in food and beverage equipment based on needed specifications. Let us see how it is practically applied in the food and beverage industry.
- EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer): Though this type of elastomer material has high resistance to temperature and chemicals, it is highly suitable to withstand steam and water but not oils and fats.
- Silicone: This type is highly resistant to temperature and chemicals; silicone is commonly used in rubber seals and gaskets, in equipment like ovens, mixers, and dispensers.
- FKM (Fluoroelastomers): This type of material is highly resistant to chemical and temperature, frequently used in food and beverage equipment, where it is highly exposed to harsh chemicals and high-temperature.
- Nitrile Rubber (NBR): Nitrile rubber is highly suitable for oils, fats, and fuels, offering excellent protection against greasy or fatty foods.
- Polyurethane: This material highly withstands chemical abrasion and is a durable choice for distinct industrial applications.
The Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost reduction with increased productivity are key factors in industrial operations. The choice of the right materials will meet the industrial standards with their specific requirement. The high-quality, temperature and chemical resistance elastomers will ensure the equipment’s longevity and smooth functioning, thereby cutting down on costs that can be incurred due to failure rates, replacements, production delays and downtime.
We analyze, craft and install the best elastomer materials suitable for your industrial needs.
Conclusion
At ISMAT, we help you in choosing the right elastomer materials. Furthermore, we provide you with maintenance tips to extend the shelf life of food equipment, and its effective functioning.
These elastomer materials with unique properties such as high-temperature and chemical resistance and their elasticity (for Rubber seals and Gaskets) fit dynamic applications and ensure safety and hygiene along with Food Safety Regulations, contributing to the best service across the globe with overall efficiency and reliability.
Reach out to our technical team to choose an ideal sealing solution, ensuring optimal performance with enhanced durability for your food and beverage applications.
