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Mechanical Packing

All TFA mechanical packing yarns are recognized under the brand name, TORPACK™. 

All TORPACK™ items contain TEFLON® Brand PTFE dispersion.

 

TEFLON® Brand fibers are relatively simple to process using standard textile processes. The key items to focus on prior to any processing steps are:

 

Quick Links
Packings of Para-Aramid
Benefits of Para-Aramid
Packings of Meta-Aramid
Packing Selection Guide
Packing Installation Guide

1) Control Room Conditions: Assure proper temperature and humidity control in the room you when you process the yarn to control static electric charge. The ideal conditions for processing are 70% relative humidity at a temperature of 70 0 Fahrenheit or 21 0 Celsius or higher.

2) Yarn conditioning: If the yarn has been stored in a cold dry warehouse it should be brought into the processing room about 1 day before use. The box and any protective covering on the yarn should be opened so it can acclimate to the warmer more humid conditions to avoid static buildup on the yarn during use.

3) Proper Tube Position: For best results the yarn tube should be positioned horizontally not vertically. Pulling the yarn off the package vertically may cause sloughing of the yarn off the package and trapped yarn under the tube. The only consideration with a horizontal tube position is the distance from the end of the tube to the yarn takeoff eyelet. Ideally this distance should be 6 inches or less to control yarn whip.

4) Yarn Tension: Controlling yarn tension is a critical step for successful processing in all textile process whether knitting or weaving. The simplest approach is to use disk tensioning devices. These simple devices are usually adequate for knitting and warping yarns. However, yarn accumulators may be required for the fill yarn in high speed weaving.

5) Yarn Twist: Because our yarns are multifilament in structure and we do not use an antistatic finish on our continuous filament yarns, you may find it necessary to twist our yarns to obtain the best results in your process.

  
TFA Packings of PARA-ARAMID Fiber Offer a Unique Combination of Properties


TFA
para- aramid fiber combines high strength, high modulus and toughness. In addition, it provides good chemical resistance and other characteristics that make it well-suited for a packing yarn. It has replaced asbestos in a wide variety of equipment applications.

Para-aramid fiber is available for use in packings in two convenient forms:

  • TFA para-aramid IT: para-aramid fiber blended with PTFE dispersion and treated with an inert lubricant.
  • TFA para-aramid TEXIT: PARA-ARAMID is textured to improve blending with PTFE dispersion. Then it is treated with an inert lubricant. This improves the performance of para-aramid packings, particularly when sealability and conformity features are needed.

TFA para-aramid TEXIT and IT yarns are designed primarily for use in pump packings. They also have many char­acteristics that make them suitable to valve packing applications.

  
Benefits of Installing TFA High-Performance Packings of Para-aramid Fiber


When you combine the unusual strength and good chemical resis­tance of para-aramid with the Mechanical Packingproperties added by TEFLON® and an inert lubri­cant, the result is superior packing yarns that supply the following advantages:

  • High tensile strength for abrasive fluid service applications
  • Ability to operate at shaft surface speeds up to 1900 fpm (9.65m/sec) and above
  • Replacement for white asbestos packings in most chemical ser­vices (pH 3-11)
  • Greater service life than asbestos in many applications
  • High temperature capability to approximately 400°F (204°C)
  • Clean, easy to handle
  • Nonasbestos

TFA Packings of para-aramid TEXIT also offer these additional benefits:

  • Excellent sealability to resist leak­age and guard against damage to the packing
  • High conformity for easier instal­lation and start-up; ideal for die­formed rings
  • Easy to cut into measured lengths for packing rings
  
Packings of META-ARAMID Fiber for an Extended Range of Applications


Meta-aramid aramid fiber unites high temperature resistance with fiber toughness and chemical and hydro­lytic resistance superior to PARA-ARAMID fiber. Meta-aramid has proven itself as a packing fiber over years of successful performance as a component of ULTRA I&T fiber. Meta-aramid IT has performed well in demanding trials in chemical, paper and foundry applications. It is now available as a replacement for asbestos and other synthetic fibers in a wide variety of equipment applications.

meta-aramid IT: meta-aramid is textured to improve blending with PTFE dispersion. Then it is treated with an inert lubricant.

Specify packing of TFA meta-aramid IT for enhanced qualities

The superior resistance of meta-aramid fiber to chemical and hydrolytic damage is reinforced by impregnation of the textured yam with PTFE dispersion and an inert lubricant. TFA meta-aramid IT is a packing yam with a special balance of properties.

Its benefits include:

  • Excellent sealability to resist leakage and guard against damage to the packing
  • High conformity for easier installation and start-up; ideal for die-formed rings
  • Greater toughness for better performance in abrasive application
  • Better thermal conductivity in high-speed uses
  • Lower fiber density for more packing per pound of fiber
  • High temperature capability to approximately 550°F (288°C)
  • Suitability for many chemical services (pH 1-13)
  • Resistance to hydrolytic degradation for use in hot/wet conditions.
  • Clean, white
  • Nonasbestos

Summary of Fiber Properties*

(Fibers used

PARA-ARAMID

 

in packing

TEXIT &

 

applications.)

PARA-ARAMID IT

META-ARAMID IT

Maximum

 

 

Temperature

 

 

of

500

550

°C

204

288

Minimum

 

 

Temperature

 

 

of

-40

-40

°c

-40

-40

pH Range

3-11

1-13

Typical Shaft Speeds

 

 

fpm

1900

1900

m/sec

9.65

9.65

*This chart is intended to offer conservative guidelines for packing selection. Other factors, such as equipment condition and braid structure, may influence actual performance. We recommend consultation with packing supplier representative for specific recommendations.

TEFLON® ULTRA Packing Fiber

  • Made with TFA TEFLON® brand fibers and meta-aramid fiber to allow higher shaft speeds than 100% PTFE yarns alone and solve the problems of excessive shaft runout.
  • The TEFLON® brand fibers and meta-aramid yarn is blended with PTFE dispersion and treated with an inert lubricant.  

TEFLON® ULTRA provides these features:

  • Excellent chemical resistance.
  • High compressive strength.
  • Low coefficient of friction.
  • Excellent dimensional stability
  • Retains properties over a wide temperature range: from -400 oF (-240 oC) to 550oF (288 oC).
  • Higher shaft speeds than all PTFE packing fibers (up to 1800 fpm (9.14 m/sec) versus 600 fpm (3.05 m/sec) to 1200 fpm (6.09 m/sec).
  • Shaft runout of up to .015 inches (0.038cm).
  • Clean, easy to cut, white fiber.
  
Mechanical Packing Selection Guide

Service

 

 

Packing Yarn

Category

Ultra

NOMEX®

TEXIT

KEVLAR®

PTFE 100%

High Speed

8

10

8

8

N/A

Low Speed

10

6

9

9

9

Corrosive*

3

3

2

2

10

Mildly/Non-Corrosive

10

5

8

8

5

Abrasive

10

3

6

6

5

Non-Abrasive

5

6

10

10

N/A

Fiber Color

White

White

Yellow

Yellow

White

           

Maximum Temp

ºF

550

550

500

500

550

ºC

288

288

204

204

288

           

Minimum Temp

ºF

-400

-400

-40

-40

-400

ºC

-240

-240

-40

-40

-240

           

Typical Shaft Speed

FPM

1800

1900

1900

1900

600 to 1200

m/sec

9.14

9.65

9.65

9.65

3.05 to 6.09

pH Range

1 to 14

1 to 13

3 to 11

3 to 11

1 to 14

* If speed is not a consideration 100% PTFE packing will outperform ULTRA and P packing fibers in this application

Note: 1-10 Scale 10 Being the Best

  
Packing Installation Instruction Guide

Proper installation helps assure maximum performance of packing materials. The following procedures are suggested for installation:

1. Before installing, always check shaft alignment and surface finish (Fig. 1).

2. Cut packing and form into rings. Packing may be cut to form butt or skive joints (Fig. 2).

3. In the stuffing box, seat each ring firmly. Stagger joints 90 degrees for each successive ring. It is not necessary to drive or tamp into position.

4. Tighten follower gland nuts finger­tight. Start pump. If there is no leakage, loosen gland nuts until leakage occurs.

5. Reduce leakage to desired level by tightening gland nuts one flat at a time. Wait at least five min­utes between adjustments. REMEMBER: PACKING LASTS LONGER WHEN IT IS ADJUSTED TO MINIMIZE LEAKAGE. HOWEVER DO NOT STOP THE LEAKAGE COMPLETELY

6. If the gland overheats, back off follower gland nuts and repeat run-in procedure.

 

Stuffing Box Arrangements


Mechanical Packing Figure 2

Specify and use packings made of TFA fibers for your pumps, valves, mixers and agitators. Consult with a TFA representative or your packing supplier to determine which packing material will best meet the operating and environmen­tal conditions for your individual pieces of equipment. Consider the replacement cycle for your packing materials. Consider the possible long-term savings and efficiencies if you can extend packing life 100%, 200%, 300%, 500% ...and more. TFA gives you a choice of the packing fiber which best fits your needs.

  
  

Teflon is a registered trademark of E.I. DuPont Company. Toray is licensed by DuPont to use the Teflon trademark.


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