Experimental Investigation of Elastomer Docking Seal Compression Set, Adhesion, and Leakage

A universal docking and berthing system is being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to support all future space exploration missions to low-Earth orbit (LEO), to the Moon, and to Mars. An investigation of the compression set of two seals mated in a seal-on-seal configuration and the force required to separate the two seals after periods of mating was conducted. The leakage rates of seals made from two silicone elastomer compounds, S0383-70 and S0899-50, configured in seal-on-seal mating were quantified. The test specimens were sub-scale seals with representative cross-sections and a 12 inch outside diameter. The leakage rate of the seals manufactured from S0899-50 was higher than that of the seals made from S0383-70 by a factor of 1.8. Similarly, the adhesion of the 50 durometer elastomer was significantly higher than that of the 70 durometer compound. However, the compression set values of the S0899-50 material were observed to be significantly lower than those for the S0383-70.