Sealing element and method for producing a sealing element

Abstract

In order to provide a sealing element which ensures a reliable seal and which can be produced easily and economically, it is proposed that a main body of the sealing element is formed from a partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material which is injection-moldable.

1 . A sealing element for providing a seal between a first media space filled with a first medium and a second media space filled with a second medium in a region of a movable component, which is guided or is guidable through the sealing element displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the movable component or rotatably along the longitudinal axis,
 wherein the sealing element comprises a main body, which has two dynamic sealing portions which are abuttable against the movable component,   wherein each dynamic sealing portion has a sealing lip, wherein each sealing lip comprises one or more sealing edges,   wherein the main body is formed from a partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material which is injection moldable,   wherein a fluoropolymer content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass, is at least approximately 85%, and   wherein a carbon fiber content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass, is at least approximately 2% and at most approximately 6%.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the sealing element has obtained at least part of its final outer shape or only part of its final outer shape or its entire final outer shape by means of turning or machining. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner side or underside of the main body facing towards the movable component in a mounted state of the sealing element comprises a surface produced by a finishing operation after a shaping step. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein a fluoropolymer content of the thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at least approximately 90%. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein a fluoropolymer content of the thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at most approximately 99%. 
     
     
         6 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a sealing element, in particular the sealing element according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 producing a main body of the sealing element from a partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material which is injection-moldable,   wherein a fluoropolymer content of the injection-moldable partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at least approximately 85%, and   wherein a carbon fiber content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass, is at least approximately 2% and at most approximately 6%.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the main body of the sealing element obtains at least part of its final outer shape or only part of its final outer shape or its entire final outer shape by means of turning or machining. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein an inner side or underside of the main body facing towards the movable component in the mounted state of the sealing element is subjected to a finishing operation after a shaping step. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein one or more sealing edges or indentations or recesses are formed or subjected to a finishing operation by means of turning or machining. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the turning or machining is performed with use of an axially and radially movable tool, which is guided axially and radially along the main body in accordance with an inner contour of said main body to be produced. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the turning or machining is performed with use of a tool which comprises a processing edge complementary to an inner contour of the main body to be produced. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the tool is guided against the main body to be produced from the inside out in a radial direction in such a way that the desired inner contour of the main body is completed in a processing step without axial movement. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material is produced as a compound material from (according to weight) approximately 94% fluoropolymer, approximately 4% carbon fiber, and approximately 2% graphite. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material is brought in succession, in successive zones of a plasticizing unit of a compounding facility, to the following temperatures: 80±20° C., 340±20° C., 360±20° C., 365±20° C., 350±20° C., 340±20° C. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material is brought in succession, in successive zones of a plasticizing unit of an injection molding facility for producing sealing elements, to the following temperatures: 350±20° C., 365±20° C., 370±20° C., 375±20° C., 380±20° C. 
     
     
         21 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection moldable thermoplastic material is a compound material which is producible or which is produced by means of a compounding facility. 
     
     
         22 . A sealing element for providing a seal between a first media space filled with a first medium and a second media space filled with a second medium in a region of a movable component, which is guided or is guidable through the sealing element displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the movable component or rotatably along the longitudinal axis,
 wherein the sealing element comprises a main body, which has two dynamic sealing portions which are abuttable against the movable component,   wherein each dynamic sealing portion has a sealing lip, wherein each sealing lip comprises one or more sealing edges,   wherein the main body is formed from a partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material which is injection moldable,   wherein a fluoropolymer content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at least approximately 85%, and   wherein a carbon fiber content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is approximately 4%.   
     
     
         23 . The sealing element according to  claim 22 , wherein a graphite content of the thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is approximately 2%. 
     
     
         24 . A sealing element for providing a seal between a first media space filled with a first medium and a second media space filled with a second medium in a region of a movable component, which is guided or is guidable through the sealing element displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the movable component or rotatably along the longitudinal axis,
 wherein the sealing element comprises a main body, which has two dynamic sealing portions which are abuttable against the movable component,   wherein each dynamic sealing portion has a sealing lip, wherein each sealing lip comprises one or more sealing edges,   wherein the main body is formed from a partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material which is injection moldable,   wherein a fluoropolymer content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at least approximately 85%,   wherein a carbon fiber content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at least approximately 0.5% and at most approximately 10%, and   wherein a graphite content of the thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass or its volume, is at least approximately 0.5% and at most approximately 6%.   
     
     
         25 . The sealing element according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass, is approximately 94%. 
     
     
         26 . A high pressure fuel pump, comprising a piston and a sealing element for providing a seal between a first media space filled with a first medium and a second media space filled with a second medium in a region of the piston, which is guided through the sealing element displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the piston,
 wherein the sealing element comprises a main body, which has two dynamic sealing portions which are abuttable against the piston,   wherein each dynamic sealing portion has a sealing lip, wherein each sealing lip comprises one or more sealing edges,   wherein the main body is formed from a partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated thermoplastic material which is injection moldable,   wherein a fluoropolymer content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass, is at least approximately 85%, and   wherein a carbon fiber content of the injection moldable thermoplastic material, in respect of its mass, is at least approximately 0.5% and at most approximately 10%.