A rubber expansion joint is a specially engineered product inserted in a rigid piping system to absorb movement, reduce mechanical noise, compensate for misalignment, and/or eliminate electrolysis between dissimilar metals. They are also designed to relieve system strain due to thermal change, load stress, pumping surges, wear or settling.
The term rubber can apply to many different Elastomer compounds such as Butyl, Viton, Neoprene, EPDM, etc, which are designed to operate successfully in may different environments. The ability to combine fabric, FEP and elastomers effectively further have expanded the list of applications and extend the useful life of a rubber joint. Spool type rubber joints can be manufactured to over 10 feet in diameter.
Rubber expansion joints and flexible couplings are ideally suited for hundreds of applications in a wide range of industries. They are commonly used in power generating stations, pulp & paper, chemical process piping, wastewater disposal, marine applications, as well as heating, ventilating and air conditioning.