SEALING MEMBER AND METHODS OF SEALING

摘要

An open end of hollow member (7) is sealed using a sealing member (20) comprising a layer of sealant (26) between two constraining layers (25, 27). Force is applied to the sealing member to maintain the sealant in sealing contact with the inner walls of the hollow member. At least one of the constraining layers and/or the means of applying force is sufficiently resilient to accommodate volume changes of the sealant during temperature fluctuations and displacement of the sealant when a substrate is inserted into the hollow member through the sealing member. To facilitate insertion of the substrate through the sealing member, holes and/or slits (6, 5) may be provided in one or both of the constraining layers and/or through the sealant layer.