Garlock Pty Ltd, an internationally recognised company in the field of pump gland packing, developed a continuously monitored recirculating pump system to test performance of their packing. The packings were run under the very demanding conditions of high speed and no lubrication to accelerate the wear patterns. Naturally the total performance of the system also depends on the interaction of the packing with the shaft sleeves being used.

When testing the packing containing Kevlar (designed for high wear situations), standard 316 stainless steel sleeves were noted to score very quickly causing this part of the test to be abandoned early. Switching to a 316 stainless steel sleeve coated with spray fused tungsten carbide (an industry standard solution for wear problems), improved the situation somewhat, but even this failed prematurely, not allowing sufficient run time for a true comparison.

Only when C-Ramic coated 316 stainless sleeves were used could sufficient run time be had to obtain meaningful information:

It was also noted that when compared to solid ceramic sleeves, the C-Ramic coated sleeves dissipated the heat better and thus minimised packing burn out and sleeve fracture.

It is concluded that C-Ramic coated shaft sleeves provide the best performance, even with the most abrasive packing. This has lead to improvements in the gland area of pumps and contributing to longer and more efficient pumping cycles.

If you require improved performance (less drag, greater efficiency, longer life) from your pumping systems, contact the experts at C-Ramic.