Li-ion Battery/Cathode Powder Industry

Mixing An Electrifying Seal Solution for the Cathode Powder Industry

For the moment, at least, it looks like the future of batteries for electric vehicles belongs to the cathode powder industry. Innovations in this area are moving toward solid-state powder-composite batteries with much thicker electrode structures and, therefore, much higher capacity. The upshot: electric vehicles with far greater range.

Preparing for Growing Powder Demand

The need for cathode powder will most likely grow rapidly, and powder manufacturers need to be ready to meet the demand. So what could stand in the way?

One answer to this question is probably not top of mind, but it should be: mixer failures resulting from seal failure. Why? Because mixers and blenders failures create:

• Potential hazards to employees
• Potential hazards to the environment
• High costs in time and money
• Failure to keep up with demand and, therefore, loss of business

The time to evaluate and upgrade mixer seals is now before the demand increases. Installing CinchSeal rotary shaft seals helps ensure that mixers and blenders continue operating at peak efficiency.

Why CinchSeal Rotary Shaft Seals?

In chemical plants, mixer and blender failures happen for several reasons, but the main causes include:

• Premature bearing failure
• Irreversible damage to shafts
• Expensive battery powder leakage
• Toxic environment contamination

Premature Bearing Failure

• The CinchSeal self-adjusting design does not allow contamination build-up in the bearing housing
• The self-lubricating seal enables a dry-running seal operation, decreasing its wear and tear.

Irreversible Damage to Shafts

• CinchSeal rotary seals eliminate damage from rubbing. An elastomer that spins with the shaft prevents friction.
• Moreover, it can tolerate shaft misalignment of up to ¼ inch, common in bulk-handling equipment, without losing its seal

Expensive Battery Powder Leakage

• An air barrier created by purging prevents the product from entering the seal
• It also develops a force that pushes the rotating faces outward against the stationary faces and creates a tighter seal
• Cooling off rotating seal faces reduces friction-generated heat and prolongs the useful life of the seal

Toxic Environment Contamination

Two features of every CinchSeal rotary shaft seal help stop product leakage and environment contamination:

• Larger shaft/seal interface surface
• FDA-approved silicon elastomer and PTFE rotor cups

Less Maintenance, Fewer Replacements

CinchSeal rotary shaft seals last longer. They need less maintenance, which means time and cost savings. And they don’t have to be replaced as often. When it is necessary, only internal parts – elastomer and rotor cups – need to be replaced. Changing them out is also a simple process.

This simplicity is especially evident in CinchSeal split rotary shaft seals made for harsh environments, like those found in chemical plants. Split seals offer a number of advantages:

• Stainless steel that stands up to harsh working conditions
• Split rotary shaft seals that make conversion and installation easy
• Easy disassembly to make batch and frequent cleanings a breeze

For over 25 years, CinchSeal has been a leading manufacturer of rotary shaft seals for screw conveyors, ribbon blenders, and all kinds of bulk-handling equipment. CinchSeal products serve as replacements and major upgrades that make the need for machine replacement less likely.