6 Popular Rubber Expansion Joints

For over a century, expansion joints evolved to be available as NMEJs or non metallic expansion joints, rubber expansion joints, and so forth. Though metal expansion joints find wide use, there are also many disadvantages. It requires frequent maintenance to cost more time, effort, and money. Also, there are risks of developing cracks to drops in temperature and pressure. NMEJs have many advantages over metallic joints from being useful in many sectors like oil & gas, fertilizer, cement, etc. 

This article will discuss the many non metallic expansion joints, including the many rubber expansion joints like flexible rubber joints for pipes, and their benefits for many sectors. 

What are non-metallic expansion joints?

With the rapid rise in technology, many innovations have helped several industries to move forward. And they need the best components, like the non metallic expansion joints, to withstand huge loads and provide stress relief by absorbing all the thermal change-caused movements. Also, they play pivotal roles as shock absorbers and vibration Isolators and even rectify any minor misalignment of adjoining equipment.  

What are ducting non-metallic expansion  joints?

Ducting is gaining prominence as it is an air management approach for use in homes, offices, and even for storing data safely. It uses a series of fabric or plastic pipes to transform hot air from one place to another. Here, the ducting nonmetallic expansion joints, reduce stress from thermal fluctuations up to 1000 degrees Celsius and pressure up to 3psi or 2000 mm /WFC. It also reduces vibrations, oscillations, and movements in an axial or lateral direction to ensure optimal safety. Duct nonmetallic expansion joints' noteworthy application is in industrial plants with gaseous media like fuel gas, hot air, alkaline or acidic gases, etc. To meet superior standards, the best expansion joint manufacturers make them with high-quality special fabrics with essential coatings. 

Types of rubber expansion joints

One of the famous nonmetallic expansion joints is the rubber expansion joint and the most used in many sectors. Flexible rubber expansion joints are in high demand because of their flexibility to withstand high thermal changes, even up to 1400 degrees Celsius. It is because of fabricating them with natural or synthetic fabric and elastomers. Also, if needed, they have the design to include internal metallic reinforcements for providing stress relief, like rubber expansion joints for pipes. It finds application in industries using pipes carrying gases and liquids for its many advantages. Many rubber expansion types include. 

1. Single arch type with full-face integral flange designs confirms the bolt pattern of the pipeline companion metal flanges to have enough thickness to see the metal flanges tight even without using gaskets.

2. Multiple narrow arch type made of fabric and rubber and reinforced with wire or metal rings is better than a single arch to withstand more movements. 

3. PTFE lined spool arch type joints available in many standard pipe sizes having fluoroplastic liners of FEP with or without TFE, ideal for covering and manufacturing wetted tube surfaces and flange areas with exceptional resistance to most of the chemicals

4. A nonmetallic reinforced design similar to spool arch type, but the carcass does not have a metal ring or wire reinforcement by offering pressure resistance using special flanges retaining rings. 

5. Reducer-type rubber expansion joints manufactured with a centric rubber reducer are best to connect pipes unequal diameters

6. The Sleeved arch type is with the capped sleeve ends to have an inside dimension equal to the outside dimension of the pipe for slipping over the open pipes from being held secure with clamps and is ideal for low to medium pressure and vacuum services. 

The above facts and tips will help anyone choose the nonmetallic expansion joint to ensure pipelines and ducts' safety in many sectors.