Fluorine-silicon compound rubber is suitable for extreme environments to ensure the stable operation of deep-sea equipment

With the rapid development of deep-sea exploration and development in our country, the reliability of materials in extreme environments has become a key technical bottleneck. Recently, a fluorine-silicone compound specially developed for the high-pressure and low-temperature environment of the deep sea has passed rigorous tests and been successfully applied to the sealing system of deep-sea probes. Its excellent environmental adaptability provides an important material guarantee for the stable operation of deep-sea equipment.


1.The deep-sea environment poses severe challenges to materials
The deep-sea environment is characterized by high pressure, low temperature and high corrosion. The pressure at a depth of 1,000 meters in the deep sea can reach 100 standard atmospheres, and the temperature can drop as low as 2℃. Meanwhile, the salt content of seawater is high, which poses extremely high requirements for the compressive strength, corrosion resistance and low-temperature elasticity of sealing materials. Traditional sealing materials are prone to problems such as excessive permanent compression deformation and seal failure in deep-sea environments, which have repeatedly led to malfunctions of detection equipment and restricted the safety and continuity of deep-sea operations.


2. Targeted research and development to optimize material formulas
To solve this difficult problem, the R&D team carried out targeted design based on the characteristics of the deep-sea environment. By adjusting the molecular chain structure of the fluorosilicone raw rubber and introducing fluorine-containing side chains, the corrosion resistance was enhanced. At the same time, nano-scale reinforcing agents are added to optimize the crosslinking density within the material and enhance its compressive strength. Especially in the optimization of low-temperature elasticity, a new plasticizing system is adopted to maintain stable elasticity of the material within the range of -10℃ to 50℃, avoiding embrittlement at low temperatures.


3. Multiple rounds of rigorous testing verify reliability
This fluorosilicone compound has undergone multiple rounds of verification, including simulated deep-sea environment tests and long-term aging resistance tests. Under the simulated pressure environment at a depth of 1,500 meters in the deep sea, the sealing parts can work continuously for 720 hours without leakage. At a low temperature of -10℃, the tensile strength retention rate exceeds 90%. After a 3,000-hour seawater immersion test, the material's performance degradation was less than 5%, and all indicators reached the international advanced level. The test results show that it can fully meet the long-term working requirements of deep-sea equipment.


4. Expand the application scenarios of deep-sea equipment
At present, this fluorine-silicone compound has been successfully applied to key parts such as the cabin sealing and hydraulic system sealing of a certain type of deep-sea probe. The actual sea tests have proved that its performance is stable and reliable. In addition to deep-sea exploration, its application scenarios are also expanding into fields such as deep-sea oil and gas extraction equipment and underwater robots. The R&D team stated that the next step will be to continue enhancing the material's resistance to extreme pressure, with the goal of adapting to ultra-deep-sea environments above 5,000 meters, providing more comprehensive material support for the development of deep-sea resources in China.