Development of fluoroelastomer back-up seal: snapshots of a novel effort in rubber engineering for a critical application (Part I)

Abstract

This two-part article describes the ab initio development of fluoroelastomer, static back-up seals for use in the rotatable plugs of a 500-MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor. It covers important results arising from the development and an assessment of the reliability of the seal at the end of its design life, under postulated accidental conditions. The article also highlights larger, potential applications of fluoroelastomers in the nuclear industry, based on this development work. In the first instalment, which appears here, we provide a brief introduction to static back-up seals, discuss the conceptualisation stage and limitations of the conceptual design, and outline the development strategy.