Materials Technology

Our high performance elastomers are relied upon worldwide by customers who need top quality materials that are validated and proven to operate:

• At extremes of temperature.
• In chemically aggressive and abrasive environments.
• Under rapid gas decompression (RGD) conditions.
• To tight performance specifications.
• Where failure could have significant health & safety, environmental or financial implications.

The following materials play a vital role in the safe and efficient operation of plant and equipment across many industrial sectors.

James Walker has developed two new ranges of Shieldseal^® elastomers specifically for use with ionising radiation. They are backed with evaluation results from specialist test houses and nuclear sector customers. 

Shieldseal^® 500 is our world-leading range of lead-free elastomers for shielding X-ray and gamma radiation. These materials are recommended for duties where a resilient rubber-based flexible seal is needed to prevent shine paths in active areas.

Shieldseal^® 600 is our range of elastomers that resist ionising radiation. The change in physical properties of the materials has been monitored over time when irradiated with gamma radiation to prove their retention of compression-set resistance and long service life.

James Walker's pharmaceutical grades of ethylene-propylene-diene, fluorocarbon and silicone elastomers have been independently tested and certified to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI. In addition, we offer two Kalrez^® grades, from DuPont Performance Elastomers, with USP Class VI. 

This stringent biological evaluation has been designed to ensure that products manufactured from the material will be non-toxic, and suitable for use in selected medical devices or in contact with injectable drugs.

At James Walker we formulate and compound over 300 grades of elastomers in house. Many of these are our General Grades that, between them, prove suitable for the vast majority of standard industrial applications.

We compound these General Grades with the same no-compromise philosophy regarding quality as we apply to our High Performance Elastomers and other speciality grades. 

We process and/or supply many Specification Grades of elastomer as sheet joinings, precision cut gaskets, moulded components and extrusions. In addition to those outlined in this section, we have numerous other Specification Grades that meet specific customer and industry requirements.   

To complement our premium ranges of elastomers for high-integrity duties, we also supply the following Commercial Grades for your less critical applications.