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Flapper Valves for Aircraft Emergency Escape Slides

Custom manufactured silicone seals, especially created for use in flapper valves on aircraft escape chutes and life flotation systems, are available from Pelmor® Laboratories, Inc.

Because of the critical performance requirements of the flapper valve seals, their manufacture requires a number of special considerations. These include an elastomer that can withstand harsh environments, precision engineering and molding capabilities, and superior rubber-to-fabric and rubber-to-metal bonding qualities.

The seals, which are devised to seal inflation valve aspirators that are closed after full inflate volume is reached, are molded from silicone, a high performance elastomer capable of withstanding temperature extremes of - 60° to + 400° F. The silicone polymer also exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, a Shore A durometer of 55 +/- 5, superior tensile strength (750 psi), and elongation to 240%.

The bonding of rubber to other substrates is a specialty of Pelmor® Laboratories. For the flapper valve seals, the company bonds the silicone elastomer to aluminum and stainless steel inserts and to fabric-reinforced hinges.

For additional information, contact Pelmor® Laboratories, Inc., 401 Lafayette Street, Newtown, PA 18940-0309; Phone: 800-772-6969 or 215-968-3334; Fax: 215-968-3676; E mail: sales@pelmor.com.