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Preventing fluid leaks is critical in pumps and valves to maintain system performance integrity and safety, and braided mechanical packing is an effective solution for minimizing leaky connections. Also called compression packing, it’s ideal for throttling leakage, especially when mechanical seals can not be used.
Braided packing is made from a variety of natural, mineral, metallic, and synthetic materials, so it’s important to understand the needs of your application to determine which material option best fits your requirements. Learn how quality mechanical packing supports controlled leaking and improved maintenance practices. Master Packing and Rubber Company (MPRC) offers many options for quality centrifugal and reciprocating pump and valve packings.
Importance of Quality in Mechanical Packing
Durable braided rope packing typically has a rectangular- or square-shaped cross-section. The packing, cut into rings, fits around a shaft to fill a pump’s stuffing box. Multiple rings are applied to fill the box and a gland ring is used to apply pressure to the set. When you tighten a gland to the rings, the packing set compresses and rings expand radially to seal between the shaft and pump body. This compressible material reduces thickness and controls leakage, usually to manageable drips per minute. This same concept is used for valves. However, valves can be maintained to a leak free status. Leaks can be hazardous, wasteful, and expensive. Using high-quality mechanical pump packing material provides optimal leak protection for pumps and valves, extending their life span. MPRC supplies high-performance braided mechanical packing in a range of quality materials, lending you the versatility necessary to ensure leak protection in a broad range of applications. Our durable mechanical packing can withstand extreme-temperature environments (-450º F to 5,000º F or higher) and contact with fluid pH levels ranging from very acidic at 0 to highly basic at 14.therma
MPRC Seals’ Braided Packing Materials
MPRC offers an extensive line of braided and extruded mechanical packing materials for centrifugal and reciprocating pumps and valves. The ideal material for your pump or valve will be based on the temperature, pressure, chemical, and related resistance characteristics necessary for the application.
Natural/Organic
We provide our highly adaptable natural and organic compression packing products from:
- Cotton yarns
- Jute
- Low-end flax
These materials offer high tensile strength and flexibility, perform well in contact with water, and are typical mechanical packing materials in the marine industries.
Mineral Fiber
We’ve provided mineral fiber braided or wrapped packing for challenging applications. It’s chemically stable, and its durability, tolerance for high pressures and temperatures, and noncombustibility make it ideal for environments such as industrial, chemical, and petroleum processing operations. Our mineral fiber packing products consist of inorganic materials like:
- Ceramic
- Glass
- Rock
Metallic
When packing materials must withstand extreme temperatures, high pressures, or exposure to corrosive chemicals, braiding and wrapped metal foils incorporating metallic strands is the ideal choice. Our strong metallic packing materials are made up of metals such as:
- Copper
- Stainless steel
- Inconel
- Aluminum
- lead
We design these mechanical packing materials for pumps and valves in industries such as chemical processing, petrochemicals, steel mills, and those with similarly harsh operating conditions.
Synthetic Fiber
Utilizing multiple types of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known by its brand name of Teflon®, our synthetic packing materials can maintain their integrity in high-temperature environments up to 500° F and are resistant to both electrical conductivity and chemicals. Our carbon fiber packing can take higher temperatures and our braided Graphite packing can normally operate up to 850° F. Graphite ribbon can go as high as 5,000° F in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Our synthetic fiber and tape material options include:
- Carbon
- Graphite
- PTFE
Customized Solutions
Our customization options don’t end with material selection. To better meet your individual needs and application requirements, MPRC provides custom solutions with our mandrel- and die-formed rings. Our team also supplies braided packing material in 1-, 5-, 10-, 25-, and 50-pound spools, as needed.
Contact MPRC for Your Mechanical Packing Needs
Since 1982, MPRC has specialized in innovative seal technology. In addition to mechanical packing, our veteran-owned business offers custom cut gaskets and seals for markets including biofuel, government, industrial, marine, and railroads. Our extensive USA-made product line, versatile range of materials, and customization capabilities offer reliable solutions for preventing leaks and ensuring safer systems. Contact us to learn more about our compression packing products or to request a quote for your next project.