A Guide to Select Oil Seals for Your Industrial Application

A Guide to Select Oil Seals for Your Industrial Application

An oil seal is a type of seal used in various industrial equipment to close the gap between its moving and non-moving components. These oil seals help prevent lubricant leakage at high pressures and block foreign components from entering the machinery. With such an important role to play, these oil seals must be chosen carefully. This post discusses the types of oil seals and also guides you through the important factors to choose an appropriate oil seal for your industry.

Types of Oil Seals – Based on Materials 

There is a wide range of seals to select according to the type of material. Some of the types of oil seals are as follows:

Rubber Oil Seals:

Rubber seals are the most common types of sealing solutions preferred for tight sealing. Rubber seals are corrosion resistant and are used in both high and low-pressure applications. Nitrile, polyacrylate, Viton®, silicone, and polytetrafluoroethylene are a few common types of rubber materials used for this purpose. Each material possesses the typical capability, so, you must choose the rubber material carefully for your application.

Rubber seals are the most common types of sealing solutions preferred for tight sealing. Rubber seals are corrosion resistant and are used in both high and low-pressure applications. Nitrile, polyacrylate, Viton®, silicone, and polytetrafluoroethylene are a few common types of rubber materials used for this purpose. Each material possesses the typical capability, so, you must choose the rubber material carefully for your application.

Metal Cased Oil Seals:

These seals feature stamped metal cases with an elastomer bonded sealing lip. Carbon steel is the metal used for making the case. The case protects the lip seal during installation. Metal encased seals are generally used for high-pressure or high-temperature applications.  

These seals feature stamped metal cases with an elastomer bonded sealing lip. Carbon steel is the metal used for making the case. The case protects the lip seal during installation. Metal encased seals are generally used for high-pressure or high-temperature applications.

Leather Oil Seals:

These seals possess good running properties and are generally preferred for abrasive applications. The seals are usually used for shafts that possess surface roughness higher than rubber seals.

These seals possess good running properties and are generally preferred for abrasive applications. The seals are usually used for shafts that possess surface roughness higher than rubber seals.

7 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing Oil Seals

With varieties of seals available, choosing the right seal for application can be a daunting task. The following factors will help make the right selection. 

Lubricant: If choosing lubricated seals ensure they are continuously lubricated with oil that possesses appropriate viscosity required for the application and the lubricant is compatible with the elastomer material of seals.

Shaft Finishing: A good surface finishing of shafts gives a very effective oil sealing. The ground or polished shafts with concentric finish marks provide the best sealing that prevents leakage even during the shaft rotations. Hence, it is important to make sure that the shaft finishing is well maintained.

Shaft and Bore Tolerance: The seals must be strong enough to tolerate the pressure and vibrations caused by shaft and bores. The authenticity of metal and elastomer material is something that makes the shaft and bore tolerance possible. Therefore, check if the material meets these requirements before buying the seal.

Shaft Hardness: The life expectancy of a seal is measured on the basis of the hardness of its shaft. A shaft must possess a Rockwell hardness of 30 or above. When a seal is exposed to abrasive contaminants or high pressure, this RC hardness protects the seal from getting damaged. Hence, it is an essential factor.

Temperature: The temperature of the process should not exceed the temperature of the seal elastomer. Any increase or decrease in temperature may affect the sealing capability of the seal. Hence, it is an important point to be considered.

Pressure: Most seals are designed for applications where they may be subjected to pressures as low as 8 psi. However, if they are subjected to even low pressures then pressure relief must be ensured.

Shaft Speed: Shaft speed depends on many factors including shaft finish, its concentricity, the type of liquid being transferred, and the type of oil seal material. So each of these factors must be considered to achieve a maximum shaft speed. 

In addition to the above-given factors, sourcing high-quality seals from a trusted manufacturer are quite important.  SSP Seals provides high-quality

In addition to the above-given factors, sourcing high-quality seals from a trusted manufacturer are quite important. SSP Seals provides high-quality oil seals for industrial applications in automotive, oil and energy, and other sectors. The company can provide seals made of a wide range of materials including PTFE, Viton, Silicone, Nitrile, and so on.

6 Guidelines For Oil seals

2.  PRESSURE: Oil Seals cannot endure a lot of pressure. You need to understand your machinery’s pressure capabilities and ensure you use the correct seal to withstand its pressure levels.

3.  TEMPERATURE: Similar to the pressure level, you need to know what temperature your machinery can operate at. You need to choose a seal that can withstand the heat or cold. PTFE have the widest rang of temperature, making them a safe option when you are uncertain of the range.

4.  SHAFT SPEED: As different shafts move at different speeds you need to consider the runout, the housing bore, and oil type being sealed. Ensure you select a seal that will not suffer from abrasions or spiralling.

5.  TYPES OF FLUID: Numerous oil seals can interact with oils, fuels, grease, water and more. However, know exactly what type of fluid the rotary shaft seal will be in contact with will ensure the longevity of the seal and the machinery.

6.  AMOUNT OF LUBRICANT: Seals perform better when lubricated but some machines will go through some dry spells. When this occurs using a leather or PTFE seal will be more beneficial as those type of seals can operate with less lubrication.

Popularity and Benefits for Industrial Applications

Oil seals are used for critical applications in industries such as oil, gas, and petrochemicals. They are designed to prevent leakage from the sealing lip and rotary shaft by creating a thin oil layer between them. Oil seals can be produced using well-known sealing materials including PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE), silicon, nitrile, and fluoroelastomer.

The different types of oil seals makes them a dynamic product, which can be used in a number of different industrial applications such as:

Electric motors

Gearboxes

Paper rolls

Industrial pumps and fans

Customized equipment

Benefits of Oil Seals

The strength, flexibility, and durability of oil seals provide a number of benefits to various industrial applications:

Performance under Extreme Environments:

Oil seals have the capability to work under extreme duress in terms of temperature. This makes them perfect for fluid environment applications. Oil seals work at optimum levels between temperatures of – 70oC and +260oC.Low Friction Properties:

Oil seals are designed for low friction applications. The lubrication within the oil ensures that the sealing lip does not touch the shaft and prevents burning of the sealing lip.Long Shelf Life:

Sealing materials such as PTFE and fluoroelastomer ensure that the oil seals can be used for long periods of time.

Easy Assembly: Oil seals can be easily replaced within a few minutes without disassembling the entire machine. Oil seals are also compact in size, making easier to handle and replace when it comes to assembly.

Reduced Weight: Manufacturers design oil seals to be light in weight, while having the required strength properties to work under stressful environments.

Good Substitutes for Standard Seals: Specialized oil seals can be used as an alternative for standard lip seals that are used for dry or poorly lubricated conditions.

As one can see, there are many benefits that come with using high performance oil seals for industrial applications.