A flexible bellow joint, or expansion joint, is a device used in engineering and piping systems to absorb thermal expansion or contraction, isolate vibrations, and compensate for misalignments or movements. These joints are commonly found in pipelines, ductwork, and other systems where flexibility is required, and helps prevent damage to the piping or equipment by allowing for controlled movement. Flexible bellow joints are crucial in applications where rigid connections might be prone to failure due to thermal stresses or other dynamic forces.
Typically made of Tetron S or Tetco V, these materials allow the joint to flex and absorb movements without transmitting excessive forces or stresses to the connected components.
Corrosion and chemical resistance – Tetron S & Tetco V have superior corrosion and chemical resistance to other materials that can be used for bellow joints, such as elastomers and metals.
Cost effective – machining plastic bellow joints do not need any initial tooling, therefore is cost effective for short production runs, as well as higher production runs on the appropriate CNC machining equipment.
Lightweight – This is advantageous in weight sensitive applications, as well as making installation easier for larger joints.
Noise dampening – Plastics suppress noise better than metal bellow joints, which benefit work health and safety issues.
Standalone flanged Bellow
A single material bellow that can be fixed directly to a pipe, duct or system
Metal Flanged Bellow
Metal flanges provide improved fastening and more even sealing
Material selection is a critical consideration when choosing a plastic flexible bellow joints, as it directly impacts the performance, durability, and maintenance requirements of these components. Here are some key material selection considerations for plastic flexible bellow joints:
Chemicals
The chemical exposure is critical in selecting a suitable plastic. The concentration, temperature and duration of exposure are also required to make good material choices.
Temperature
The temperature for both short- and long-term exposure is important, as materials can withstand higher temperatures for short term periods compared to long term or constant exposure.
Weatherability & UV Exposure
It is critical to understand if the bellow will be subjected to UV light and the time of exposure, when selecting a suitable material.
Regulatory Requirements
Does the application have regulatory requirements such as food contact, drinking water, anti-static or flame retardant. The food industry may also require materials to be metal detectable, x-ray detectable and/or visually detectable by being coloured blue.
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