Bladder Buying & Storage Guide
- Tip 1: Always Buy High Quality Bladders
Bladder is a very important part for an accumulator. A good quality bladder can keep the accumulator working well with longer operation time and reduce the risk of system failure and maintenance cost. As a result, it’s worth investing in bladders.
Bladder manufacturing involves rubber raw materials, chemical formula and a series of production procedures such as moulding, bonding, curing as well as standards. Unlike the application of O-ring or other rubber seals, which are normally fixed in the position, accumulator bladders are used under high pressure and the volume change from time to time in large scale. Some may even work under harsh environment.
Different manufacturer’s bladder products may look alike, but the performence characteristics may be different , especially under demanding applications. Low quality bladders have shorter life time and are more likely to casue bladder failure during operations. ( see our other technical topic regarding the cause of bladder failure)
Our Bladder Repair Kits are ALL 100% made in USA or Europe.
- Tip 2: Knowing the Bladder's Storage Time
Each bladder has its storage time. A bladder is considered as new during the storage time only if it’s stored properly following the instructions. However, not every customer knows this or pays attention to it. Below is the summary of bladder storage time for different popular compounds. Please note, the data is for reference only, as we mentioned above, the bladder performance or life time is dependent on actual applications.
| Elastomer Type | Number of Years |
|---|---|
|
Hydrin |
5 |
|
Nitrile |
2 |
|
Hydrogenated Nitrile |
3 |
|
Butyl |
5 |
|
EPDM |
5 |
|
FKM/Viton |
3 |
do not buy "expired" bladders
Some resellers sell surplus un-used bladders online, be careful if they are expired even for a brand name. Check the cure date on the label to make sure the bladder is still within storage time to use. An old expired bladder can not be sold or used anymore.
All of our bladder repair kits come with the cure date on the label and we store the bladders properly by the rules. We do not sell or use expired bladders on our production.
- Tip 3: Buy the Right Size
Some manufacturers make custom size bladders, which are close to the standard ones. Or there are some metric size bladders similar to standard US sizes. Make sure you are buying the right size by checking dimensions to use properly and safely.
Buy bladders from us to keep your accumulator safe with no hassle, reduce the downtime risk and maintenance cost, and keep your system working smoothly.
