Flexible anti-vibration connection compliant with ATEX requirements.
The composition of the compound used for the AEX grade of Dilatoflex® reduces electrical resistance to less than 1 GΩ. Dilatoflex® expansion joints can therefore be used in ATEX zones 20, 21, and 22 and are suitable for dust groups IIIA and IIIB. They also offer excellent vibration damping and very good abrasion resistance.
Dilatoflex® expansion joints offer optimized service life in highly abrasive applications.
Vibration reduction
The proven design of Dilatoflex® expansion joints allows them to absorb vibrations generated by heavy equipment such as crushers, ball mills, gravimetric feeders, fans and compressors.
Compensation for thermal expansion
Dilatoflex® expansion joints are suitable for temperatures up to 90°C. They can be used in various applications around furnaces, coolers, and hot gas ducts. As flexible system components, they effectively compensate for longitudinal expansion and contraction caused by temperature variations.
Soil misalignment and settlement management
Large cement plants, with their long pipelines installed on industrial foundations, can experience significant misalignment. Over time, ground movement or structural loads can lead to differential settlement. Rubber expansion joints provide the flexibility needed to absorb axial, lateral, and angular misalignments, helping to maintain the integrity of the piping system.
Resistance to abrasive materials
The abrasion-resistant elastomer used in Dilatoflex® expansion joints increases resistance to abrasive fluids and extends product life. Dilatoflex® expansion joints can be used in cement production lines conveying fluids such as cement slurry, limestone, fly ash, and raw meal.
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Expansion joints suitable for abrasive industrial environments, ATEX and high temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Equipment used in the cement industry is constantly exposed to vibrations, pipe movements and abrasive fluids. Vibrations can be generated by crushers, ball mills, weight feeders, fans and compressors, while transporting fluids containing solid particles can create additional stresses within the piping system.
For this reason, it is often necessary to integrate flexible elements capable of absorbing vibrations, compensating for piping displacements and resisting pressure shocks in a harsh service environment. Today, elastomer expansion joints offer one of the best compromises between performance and cost compared to more rigid solutions. They combine exceptional flexibility, excellent resistance to pressure fluctuations and very good abrasion resistance, while remaining an economical solution for cement applications.
The life of elastomeric expansion joints in cement applications can be significantly extended by selecting the appropriate elastomeric mixture and ensuring correct installation conditions.
Dilatoflex® expansion joints are already available in abrasion-resistant elastomeric blends designed to withstand fluids such as cement slurry, limestone slurry or fly ash. However, in particularly severe conditions, an internal stainless steel baffle can be installed to reduce the direct impact of abrasive particles on the elastomer surface and extend service life.
The need for additional protection should always be assessed based on flow velocity, operating pressure, particle size and solids concentration.
Two types of stainless steel inner baffles can generally be offered for Dilatoflex® elastomer expansion joints: straight and tapered. The main advantage of the straight inner baffle is that it offers minimal to negligible pressure loss. However, its use limits the movements of the expansion joint to axial compression and extension only, making any lateral or angular movement impossible.
The conical inner baffle allows limited lateral and angular movements thanks to its geometry, but can result in a higher pressure drop compared to the straight version. This is particularly relevant in applications where vibrations manifest as radial oscillations around the axis of the pipeline (360° in the horizontal plane), typically generated by rotating equipment such as pumps or fans.