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5 Best Practices To Avoid Counterfeit Rulon® Materials

Protecting Your Material, Application & System

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By Rebecca Phan (February 2022)


How can you identify and determine authentic polymer materials, particularly for formulas such as those used in Rulon® LR, J, 641 and 123 solutions? These materials are most often copied due to their low coefficient of friction and dimensional stability in all chemicals. Read on for 5 best practices to protect your business - provided by Omniseal Solutions, the only authentic source of this beneficial polymer material used in industrial, life science, aviation and more.  

You may have heard about the “gray market” of manufacturing components, where non-genuine parts can enter the industrial supply chain. The problem seems to be particularly acute with certain high-value items such as Rulon® parts. Non-genuine materials may be reengineered, refurbished, or otherwise altered, and can pose a serious threat from an application safety and performance perspective.  

But how can you differentiate genuine Rulon® materials from counterfeit – especially when the two look alike? As the only authentic source of this material, we can provide some first-hand insights.  

From electronics to consumer goods, it’s no secret that non-genuine parts are an increasing challenge in many industries. Without the right safeguards in place, the counterfeit materials can lead to a failure in the field or even a serious recall. In the end, the initial lower price does not compensate for the potential reputation risk in terms of cost, trust, or standing. Simply put, if you do not use the right precision part or material, your system will fail.

To avoid purchasing non-genuine materials, we recommend following these 5 Best Practices:

1. Look closely at the composition of the raw ingredients

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It is important to note that not all raw materials are created equally. Non-genuine materials may be sold under a brand name and look the same, but the ingredient properties are not the same. And without the same properties, you cannot expect the same level of performance. 

As an example, the mechanical properties of Rulon® material (which is a blend of PTFE), can be enhanced by adding certain fillers like graphite. However, graphite is developed via different molders, compositions and fillers, and can vary greatly in quality. It is imperative that you have the same quality of graphite with each production cycle to ensure the same performance level each time.    

Although Omniseal Solutions™ does not disclose composition information to protect our proprietary solution, we can share that our Rulon® material is always blended with high-grade PTFE and fillers.  You can rest assured that all of our Rulon® solutions are made of the same raw materials (that you specify) each time you place an order. The materials are genuine, and trademark protected.

Rulon Powders Group

2. Review the processing method 

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Do you know how your Rulon® materials are processed? All Rulon® grades are processed by controlling molecular weight, crystallinity and porosity. If not controlled, these can significantly change the performance of PTFE. Genuine Rulon® material is internally controlled from powder to final part

Powder to Part Process Infographic

View Powder to Part Infographic

Another processing factor relates to the material processing method, which makes THE difference between application success and application fail. Processing can be customized using a variety of methods including extrusion, static press, high performance isostatic press, hot molding, etc. It is important to know the parameters that your materials are processed under so that you can depend on the material from one manufacturing cycle to the next.

3. Do not forget quality and application testing 

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While most manufacturers will do their own series of quality tests, it is critical to know the level of testing that is performed before Rulon® (or any other material) is released. Best practice is to source a supplier that conducts in-house tribology testing. With tribology, you can analyze the material’s friction, lubrication and wear properties to determine quality. 

And once testing is done, test again! Each time a supplier is replaced or a design is altered, new tests should be conducted.  

Our material experts conduct in-house application testing so we can pre-validate the right solution and precision fit for your application. Doing this extra step gives confidence to all of our customers simply because testing from zero is not necessary.

4. Consider local and global sourcing 

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In many cases, you may be best served by a supplier with local ties who knows your market and your material qualifications. A local supplier, particularly one with global reach, can help you meet country-specific regulations and certifications as well as minimize delivery lead time.   

Under the customer focus to “deliver locally, think globally,” Omniseal Solutions' supplies the same quality globally in order to avoid a customer requalification and ensure performance consistency. As part of our current supply chain strategy, we are taking more control of our material management process, such as being direct suppliers of the Rulon® material in local areas like Italy. Read the press release about end of Fluorten® distribution here.

5. Partner with a trusted supplier

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Critical applications require critical designs for safety and performance. We advise that you look for a sealing and material partner who offers excellent service from the initial design meeting right through to post-sale. Services like material recommendations, in-house testing capabilities, technical support, and customization all point to a trusted supplier offering genuine products. Explore examples of application success stories. 

These are just a few of the best practices we recommend to help you avoid failure with non-genuine Rulon® materials. Have questions on the authenticity of your components? We can help you identify and determine genuine materials, particularly for formulas where you need a low coefficient of friction and dimensional stability for your critical applications.  

Let’s connect today!

Tags: Material Formulation Precision Technology Collaborative partnerships Co-development
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