X-ray opaque polymeric gasket

Abstract

A system is provided for the detection of contaminant particulates in closed containers, that system having a plurality of system components susceptible to degredation during the manufacture of container contents and filling of the closed containers, the system components susceptible to degradation comprising a radio opaque composition of matter; an x-ray source disposed proximate to a path of the closed container in a production line; an x-ray image intensifier whereby x-rays from the x-ray source are collected and an image is generated; a ccd camera whereby the x-ray image is digitized; a contaminated container rejection mechanism whereby closed containers having x-ray images with radio opaque portions are rejected as contaminated and removed from the production line.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A solid elastomeric polymer gasket, said solid elastomeric polymer gasket comprising:
 a solid elastomer matrix consisting of polymerized fluorinated hydrocarbon elastomers;   a radio contrast disposed in said solid elastomeric matrix, said radio contrast being radio opaque at wavelengths not greater than 10 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The polymer gasket of  claim 1 , wherein said solid elastomer matrix comprises an elastomer selected from the group of elastomers comprising, fluoroelastomers, vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoroproplyene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The solid elastomeric polymer gasket of  claim 1 , wherein said radio contrast comprises barium. 
     
     
         4 . The solid elastomeric polymer gasket of  claim 3 , wherein said barium is in the form of Barium sulfate. 
     
     
         5 . The solid elastomeric polymer gasket of  claim 4 , wherein said Barium Sulfate is greater than 4% by weight of the polymer mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The solid elastomeric polymer gasket of  claim 5 , wherein said Barium Sulfate is about approximately 7% of the elastomeric material by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The solid elastomeric polymer gasket of  claim 3  wherein said radio contrast further comprises ferromagnetic powders. 
     
     
         8 . The solid elastomeric polymer gasket of  claim 7 , wherein said ferromagnetic powders comprise iron filings.